New Delhi, May 28: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has acknowledged the glitches in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) examination system and has taken responsibility for the issues that have arisen. During a high-level meeting at the CBSE headquarters, he instructed officials to ensure timely and transparent solutions to students’ problems, emphasizing that any negligence within the system would not be tolerated and strict action would be taken against such lapses.
Pradhan’s comments came in response to questions raised by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi regarding the CBSE and the central government’s handling of the examination process. The minister stated that this was the first time CBSE implemented such a large-scale digital evaluation system and admitted that some issues have surfaced. He assured that these would be addressed promptly.
The meeting included key officials such as School Education Secretary Sanjay Kumar, CBSE Chairperson Rahul Singh, and directors from IIT Madras and IIT Kanpur, among others. Pradhan directed his team to conduct a technical review of the CBSE portal’s stability, server capacity, and payment systems. He also stressed the need for a more student-friendly examination and post-result service.
As of now, approximately 18 lakh students appeared for the Class 12 examinations, with around 98 lakh answer sheets processed. Officials reported that about four lakh students have accessed nearly 11 lakh scanned answer sheets through the portal.
In light of the technical difficulties faced by students, Pradhan has tasked a team of professors and digital system experts from IIT Madras to ensure the portal’s stability and improve its functionalities.
Responding to Rahul Gandhi’s concerns about the contract awarded to Coempt Edutech for digital evaluation, Pradhan reiterated that the government is committed to transparency and accountability. He dismissed Gandhi’s claims as politically motivated, suggesting that the Congress leader’s recent electoral losses have led to his frustration with technological advancements in education.
Pradhan urged all parties to avoid statements that could increase stress among students, emphasizing that this is not the time for political games. In a counter-response, Gandhi stated that attacking him would not absolve the education minister of his responsibilities, asserting that if the Prime Minister genuinely cared about students, Pradhan would have been removed from his position for jeopardizing their futures.
The ongoing discussion highlights the critical need for efficient and reliable examination systems in Indian education, as stakeholders call for accountability and improvements in the current processes.