Gujarat Teachers Fined Over Rs 1 Crore for Errors in Board Exam Evaluation

Over 9,000 teachers in Gujarat were fined a total of Rs 1.54 crore for making mistakes in totaling marks during the evaluation of Class X and XII board exam answer sheets.

In a shocking revelation, the Gujarat Assembly was informed on Tuesday that more than 9,000 schoolteachers in the state were penalized with a cumulative fine of Rs 1.54 crore over the past two years for committing errors in totaling marks during the evaluation of Classes X and XII board exam answer sheets.

Errors and Fines

Responding to a query raised by Congress MLA Kirit Patel during Question Hour, state education minister Kuber Dindor acknowledged that a staggering 9,218 teachers, including 3,350 from Class X and 5,868 from Class XII, had made mistakes in calculating marks while assessing board exam answer sheets in 2022 and 2023. Consequently, the state government imposed substantial fines on these teachers, amounting to a total of Rs 1.54 crore.

Partial Payment and Pending Dues

Out of the 9,218 teachers who faced penalties, 6,561, comprising 2,563 Class X and 3,998 Class XII teachers, have already deposited a sum of over Rs 1 crore. However, a significant number of 2,657 teachers, including 787 from Class 10 and 1,870 from Class XII, are yet to pay their fines, which total Rs 53.97 lakh.

Recovery Measures

To recover the outstanding dues from teachers who committed errors in the board exam held in March 2022, the state education department has actively reached out to them through their respective school management and the concerned District Education Officer. Additionally, for teachers who made mistakes in evaluating answer sheets during the board exam conducted in March 2023 and have not yet submitted their penalties, the department has issued a recovery notice.

Ensuring Accuracy

To minimize the occurrence of such errors and maintain the integrity of the evaluation process, the Education Minister emphasized that penalties are imposed on erring teachers only after they are personally shown their mistakes. Furthermore, to prevent errors from going unnoticed, the department strategically appoints a verifier in each evaluation team deployed at assessment centers.

The revelation of widespread errors committed by teachers during board exam evaluation highlights the need for stringent quality control measures in the education system. By imposing fines and implementing robust verification mechanisms, the Gujarat government aims to ensure accuracy and fairness in the assessment process, ultimately benefiting students and upholding the credibility of the education system.