The online time table displayed on the website of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) for the HSC Textile exam scheduled the timings of the examination from 3pm to 6pm. On the contrary, the printed time table that was circulated among the colleges mentioned the examination timings from 11am to 2pm.
With this confusion at least 50 textile students of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) Arts missed the examination. The students belonged to Dr Rafiq Zakaria College for Women and only after reporting to their examination centres they were acknowledged that the examination had already been held.
A vexed student who did not wish to be named told that even after having cross checked three times with the time table and also confirming the timing by calling other fellow mates, it was unbelievable when after reaching the examination centre the college authorities informed that the examination had already taken place.
Another female student stated that not going by the time table declared during the start of the academic year 2104-15, she had checked the time table that was uploaded before the examination. Still flashing on the MSBSHSE website the textile examination is scheduled in the afternoon. And the lack of coordination of the state board has ruined the careers of the students.
A parent of one of the students, Asif khan, demanding a re-examination said that by not removing the old time table the state board had caused confusion in the minds of the students. Accepting its mistake, of not uploading the latest time table, a re-examination must be held on March 19 by the board.
Principal of Dr Rafiq Zakaria College for Women said that on the notice board, the college authorities put up the time table circulated by the state board. The students however followed the online time table as it was convenient. And hence the students or the institution were not to be blamed as it was the fault of the MSBSHSE.
Ruling out the possibility of a re-examination Gangadhar Mhamane, chairman of the state board clearly stated that it has been informed to the students and the educational institutes that before the examination, the hard copy of the time table should be considered.
He also told that while releasing the online time table at the start of the academic year, it is directed that the time table is subject to change and only the final time table circulated in the schools and colleges before the examination must be considered official.
Stating the same thing Sukhadev Dere, the chairman of MSBSHSE (Aurangabad division) said that the state board headquarters for SSC and HSC examinations had circulated the time table among the schools and colleges timely, well before the examination.
However a re-examination would be considered by the Pune based top level authorities of MSBSHSE.