The first semester examination of the two-year (2017-19) diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) course run by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) meant for the untrained in-service teachers was conducted in Darrang district with a three-day schedule from Thursday to Saturday along with the rest of the State.
However, there has been a significant difference in the figure of registered trainees and the candidates appearing in the examination.
According to an RTI reply from the NIOS, Guwahati, a total of 5665 untrained in-service teachers registered their names for 29 study centres across Darrang district, but the number of candidates, who appeared in the examination, has reportedly been recorded as 4340 which clearly shows that nearly 24 per cent trainees abstained from appearing in the examination.
According to sources, the examination of three-hour duration was conducted in 14 designated examination centres which included two private institutions.
No incident of malpractices by the candidates in the examination halls has been reported so far.
Confirming this, Madhab Sarma, the chief observer of the examination in Darrang district and the principal of the District Institute of Elementary Training (DIET), Dalgaon, Darrang said following the directives of the Deputy Commissioner, Darrang and from the executive chairman, ODL, SCERT, Guwahati, a total of 20 faculty members from DIET and Basic Training Centre (BTC) were appointed as observers.
Sarma also informed, “The examination conducted in a free and fair manner with the help of the local administration and police under strict monitoring and vigilance right from the opening of the question paper packets till handing over of the bundles of the answer scripts to the local police stations.”
He informed that sudden visits were made by senior administrative officials including the additional DC, Narnaryan Nath and the respective revenue circle officers to a few sensitive examination centres.
However, Sarma confirmed that there has been no report of expulsion of any candidate for adopting unfair means during the examination.
He thanked the Deputy Commissioner, Darrang, Ashok Kr Barman and executive chairman, ODL, SCERT, Sewali Devi Sarma for their constant support to the observers and invigilators.