Several schools are stepping up online invigilation at a time when online exams are becoming the norm, even for board exams.
Schools are splitting up the class so that each teacher has fewer students to monitor during an exam.
At least one school in the city is using a software that will detect a voice or a movement on a student’s screen during an exam and send an alert to the teacher.
Another school is introducing changes in the assessment pattern.
Teachers said that while the boards will follow their own system of invigilation, it is for the schools to prepare the students to maintain the sanctity of exams.
The use of unfair means during online exams have been a cause of concern for teachers across schools during the pandemic. The sanctity of exams have been compromised because of that, teachers feel.
A sizable section of students have allegedly resorted to unfair means every time they have been allowed to write an exam from home.
There have even been allegations of tutors and parents sitting with the examinee during the test, away from the screen.
La Martiniere for Girls has decided to shuffle questions and answer options in the upcoming school exams so students do not have questions in the same order or the same set of answer options to choose from.
“The change in assessment pattern is to gear the system against malpractice as much as possible. Students may not have the same options and if they try to consult they will only lose out on time,” said Rupkatha Sarkar, the principal of La Martiniere for Girls.
The school instructs the girls to place the camera at an angle so the writing table is clearly visible. The school will record the session, which can be accessed later, in case it is required.
At Lakshmipat Singhania Academy, the school is using a software that will help detect any sound or navigation on the screen.
The teacher can view the students on the screen. The system will send an alert to the teacher if there is a sound or movement on the screen of a particular student without disturbing the class, a school official said.
The system was tested during the Class IX and XI exams and will now be used for Class X and XII.
Delhi Public School New Town, Mahadevi Birla World Academy and Lakshmipat Singhania Academy are all reducing the size of the class.
A reduced class will mean teachers will have to monitor fewer students, which will ensure a stricter vigil.
South Point, which had relied on parents’ invigilation for a long time, is doing away with it.
Teachers will be involved now, a South Point official said.
The Newtown School is asking students to use a second device to upload answer scripts. This will not give students the chance to switch off their cameras and use the time given to upload scripts to make changes to their answers.
“We have to proctor the exam well so that we get a fair idea of how well the students are prepared,” said Meena Kak, director, Lakshmipat Singhania Academy.
Some schools said that they would have preferred two devices during an exam, one of which would focus on the student. But it is not possible for all parents to make such an arrangement.
“We have asked teachers to be more vigilant and see that no student moves away from the screen,” said Sonali Sen, the principal of DPS Newtown.