CCTV in school must for SSC examination

Hyderabad: While there are no basic facilities like benches, toilets and water in many government schools, the government is insisting that schools that have SSC examination centres should install CCTV cameras to prevent mass-copying.

Meanwhile, teachers’ unions are opposing CCTV cameras at the examination centres stating that there are more important issues to be addressed first.
Progressive Recognised Teachers’ Union’s (PRTU-Telangana) general secretary M. Chennaiah said that many examination centres in government schools did not even have basic facilities.

“During the SSC examinations, many students have to sit on the floor to write exams due to lack of benches. Many schools do not have drinking water. Government should focus on these issues instead of providing CCTV cameras. How can they monitor the examinations without power supply to many schools?” he asked. Mr Chennaiah said that the state could borrow or rent the Election Commission’s “Webcasting” process.

PRTU-TS leader Mr P. Sarotham Reddy said that CCTV cameras would create havoc among students under 15. “Rural students may get confused by the CCTVs in examination halls and it may divert their concentration,” he said. Some headmasters from Ranga Reddy and Nalgonda districts said off-the-record that there would be poor results in rural areas if the state implemented the decision.