Srinagar, Nov 20: Engagement of Rehbar-e-Taleems (ReTs) for conducting the ongoing under-graduate examinations in wake of shortage of staff in the Government Degree Colleges across Kashmir has raised eyebrows with experts terming it as sheer violation of rules.
 At Degree College Pattan, 13 ReTs were engaged on the first day of Ist year examination on Saturday. “The ReTs were hired from the School Education Department. However, the staff sent by the concerned Zonal Educational Officer is inexperienced. This has increased the chances of copying in the examination,” an official wishing anonymity told Greater Kashmir.
 Officials said five centers have been set up in Pattan College for the Ist year examination in which around 516 students are appearing. Each centre has around 8-10 staff members for conducting the examination. However, the College has only 13 lectures including contractuals.
 “We faced shortage of around 13 staff members on the first day of examination duty. We apprised the concerned ZEO about the matter and he sent ReTs for the examination duty,” said a college teacher wishing anonymity.
 Experts maintain that in case of staff shortage, the College had to first utilise all its resources.
 “Going by rules, we have to first exhaust all our resources then we can take help from higher secondary staff. But there is no point in engaging ReTs as supervisors in college examinations,” said a Government college principal preferring anonymity. 
 “ReTs and students are nearly of same age so there is every chance that it can vitiate the atmosphere of examination hall. Principals and concerned superintendents of exams must keep close vigil on the RETs engaged for examination duty. Normally we should avoid such situation by communicating to the Kashmir University about dearth of staff so they can even change the location of centre to nearby college,” he added.
 HOD Economics Department Pattan Degree College Prof GN Pala however gave another version for engaging the ReTs.
 “We thought the Higher Secondary staff must be busy with matric and TDC examinations. So we contacted the ZEO office. We could not have cancelled the examination centre but it would have created problems for students,” he said.
 Principal Degree College Pattan Shaheen Altaf acknowledged dearth of staff. “As we faced shortage of staff for conducting the exams, we engaged teachers from different schools from Zonal Education Office. But it (staff) is only for supervisory duty,” Shaheen said. 
 Controller of Examinations Kashmir University Dr AS Bhat said that he will look into the matter.
 “I will get first hand information from the principal. Examinations are taking place simultaneously so scarcity of staff can’t be ruled out. But if at all ReTs were engaged, it is not good,” Bhat said.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 20 Nov 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 20 Nov 2011 18:30:00 GMT
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