The Higher Secondary Examination (Class XII) 2023 conducted by the Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur (COHSEM) began on Thursday with as many as 36,717 candidates appearing for the examination held in 120 centres across the state.
As many as 36,717 students were enrolled for the HSE this year against previous year's number of 31,136 and the examination lasting three hours in a day will continue till April 1.
The total number of female candidates is 18,336 while that of male candidates is 18,381. Of the total candidates, 3,205 are appearing from non-government colleges; 13,289 from government higher secondary schools; 19,991 from non-government higher secondary schools and 232 from council private.
Though there were no official reports of any unfair means by the candidates, some of the student bodies have pointed out irregularities in some of the examination centres, during inspection.
The Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), during a press meet held at its office in Imphal, informed that its volunteers had redhandedly caught an impersonator who was appearing on behalf of a student at Chaoyaima Higher Secondary School in Thoubal district.
Education and academic affairs secretary of DESAM, Thounaojam Luwang, said unfortunately the concerned invigilator still allowed the genuine candidate to appear for the examination after his impersonator was caught.
He also alleged that the candidates in the said centre were not subjected to any sorts of frisking before entering the examination hall and witnessed a lot of commotion during the examination.
Stating that DESAM has been demanding for a penal law to punish the candidate who uses impersonation, he questioned the authorities on the steps to be taken against the candidate who uses impersonators.
In another unfortunate incident at Fancier Higher Secondary School, Thoubal, volunteers of DESAM, who are on duty of inspection, were intervened by the ASI of the examination centre.
Besides witnessing a lot of commotion, many cheats were recovered by DESAM from the students inside the examination hall at Fancier School, he added.
The Federal Students’ Organisation Kangleipak (FESOK), in a release, also alleged that mass copying and commotion were witnessed in Wangoi Higher Secondary and Pravabati College, Mayang Imphal, besides recovering many cheats.
Stating that this XII examination is the very first of its kind for the students as the candidates are all used to lenient examination in their 10th standard due to COVID pandemic, the release appealed to all the candidates to refrain from using any unfair means during the examination and make the examination meaningful.
The Manipur Youth and Students’ Union (MYSU) also inspected the examination conduction at Little Master English Higher Secondary School, Samurou and T Tomchou Higher Secondary School, Mayang Imphal.
The examination in the said centres witnessed a smooth and peaceful environment, said MYSU in a release.
The class XI examination undertaken by COHSEM will commence on Friday and will be appeared by as many as 32,899 candidates in 209 centres across the state.
