The second day of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams was marked by minor issues at several centres across the city. While most of the students were happy to find an easy question paper for English, some of them had trivial grievances.

Question papers delayed

Examinees from a centre in Mulund were harried when the question papers did not reach the centre 10 minutes past 11 am. The papers finally reached Vani Vidyalay, a centre in Mulund, at 11.10 pm. There was a lot of chaos initially, but the board ensured that students get extra 10 minutes.

According to Suresh Pawar, education officer for the northern region, the papers had reached the main centre at 9.30 am. "The papers took time to reach the sub-centres from the main centre, Mulund College of Commerce. We have initiated an inquiry into the delay. No students faced inconvenience due to this," said Pawar. The state board printed four sets of question papers for English — namely A, B, C and D. No major cases of confusion have been reported to the board's office regarding the multiple sets. "Though the passages were different, the grammar section and the writing section were same in all the four sets," said Sudeshna Shetty, a science student.

Students' complaint

At Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, a centre in Ghatkopar, some students complained of not being able to use the school's elevator, after which the Mumbai divisional board initiated inquiry. However, when board officials visited the centre, they found none of the students had complained. "There were two blocks on the fifth floor and three on the fourth floor, but none of the students complained to us. We have already sent a report to the board's office," said Pawar.

'Blank' question paper

At a centre in the central suburbs, a student received a question paper where the front page was blank. However, it was replaced immediately. A couple of students received answer sheets where the page numbers were not in serial order. The students got it changed from the supervisor.

Replacement for lost hall tickets

After queries from anxious students and parents, Basanti Roy, secretary of Mumbai divisional board, said, "Students, who have misplaced their hall tickets, will get a replacement from the board. They have to get an undertaking signed from their respective schools, and submit it at the board's office and get a copy of their hall tickets."

Yogita Rao/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication