Nursing exam fraud unearthed in State

deccanherald

A massive fraud involving over 5,000 students has been unearthed in the theory and practical examinations of Diploma in Nursing Theory course, conducted in the State last year.

Medical Education Minister S A Ramdas ordered an inquiry and suspended the chief superintendent and the invigilators who conducted the practical examination, for one year. It was found that signatures of around 5,000 students in the theory and practical examinations did not match.

diploma fraud

Ramdas told the media that ins­pection of the invigilators’ diary, answer scripts of the pract­i­cal examination and the at­tendance sheet revealed that signatures of some students in practicals and theory papers did not match, while the handwriti­ng and signatures of other stud­ents varied. He said further ins­pection revealed that of the 5,001 students under the  scann­er, handwriting of 1,346 students in the theory and practical answer scripts were the same but their signatures were different.

In the case of the remaining 3,655 students, handwriting and signatures were found to be completely different. Out of the 52,037 students who wrote the exam, results of 5,001 students from 85 nursing schools were withheld.

When the examination board had called for another inspection of the answer scripts of all students, more discrepancies in several other nursing schools came to light.

The examination board ordered holding the practical examination afresh under the supervision of the district deputy commissioner. The dates for the fresh practicals are yet to be announced. The old results will be null and void.

Ramdas said, “While different students wrote the theory and practical exams, students who had not answered any question were granted 40 out of 50 marks.

Regarding the Karnataka Nursing and Paramedical Sciences Education (Regulation) Authority Bill, 2012, which was passed in the Belguam session of the State Assembly in December 2012, Ramdas said the Bill is awaiting the Governor’s assent. Ramdas blamed non-registration of the Nursing and Paramedical Board under the Societies Act for the examination fraud.

This article originally appeared on deccanherald