Board Results Error: Over 2,700 teachers fined in Gujarat amid allegations of grave discrepancy

The GSHSEB has levied a total penalty exceeding INR 40 lakh against teachers statewide, with teachers in Surat specifically required to pay over INR 2 lakh for mistakes made in grading Class 12 results.

After a comprehensive review of the 2023 board exam results, the Surat District Education Officer, Bhagirathsinh Parmar, has issued notices to 400 teachers regarding fines imposed by the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB). This action follows the identification of discrepancies that affected the results of thousands of students across the state.

Significant Financial Penalties

The GSHSEB has levied a total penalty exceeding INR 40 lakh against teachers statewide, with teachers in Surat specifically required to pay over INR 2 lakh for mistakes made in grading Class 12 results, according to the Indian Express Report. For Class 10 discrepancies, teachers in Surat have been instructed to pay penalties totaling more than INR 1 lakh, as confirmed by district officials.

Parmar stated, “Notices have been issued to 308 teachers for faulty checking of answer sheets for both General and Science streams. They must pay the penalty and submit a copy of the payment receipt to the Surat DEO within seven days. Failure to comply will result in further action.” Additionally, 92 teachers involved in grading errors for the Class 10 board exams have also been notified.

Context of the Discrepancies

In total, 4.89 lakh students participated in the Class 12 board exams last year, with the overall pass percentage recorded at 65.58% for the Science stream and 73.27% for the General stream. Following the announcement of results, students who did not pass appealed for rechecking, leading to the discovery of significant grading discrepancies.

The state education department identified 1,672 teachers who had made errors in grading Class 12 answer sheets, resulting in a cumulative penalty of INR 25,73,716. For Class 10 exams, 1,108 teachers were found to have made similar mistakes, attracting a penalty of INR 15,99,750.

Urgent Action Required

In accordance with instructions from the state education department, district education officers across Gujarat have been directed to collect fines from affected teachers. In Surat, 308 teachers were specifically cited for errors in marking, with penalties based on the severity of the discrepancies.

One notable case involved a teacher who miscalculated 163 marks across four answer sheets, resulting in a fine of INR 16,200, while another teacher miscalculated 133 marks in two answer sheets, incurring a penalty of INR 13,300.

Moving Forward

This initiative aims to uphold educational standards and accountability among educators, ensuring that future examination processes are more reliable. The Surat District Education Office is taking decisive action to rectify these issues and maintain the integrity of the educational system.

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