Over a span of two years, a substantial number exceeding 9,000 schoolteachers in Gujarat found themselves subject to collective fines amounting to Rs 1.54 crore due to their involvement in miscalculations while assessing answer sheets for Classes X and XII board exams. This revelation surfaced in response to a query posed by Congress MLA Kirit Patel during the Question Hour session in the state Assembly. In response, Education Minister Kuber Dindor acknowledged that out of the 9,218 teachers who faced penalties, a total of 6,561 have already made payments, totaling slightly over Rs 1 crore. However, the remaining 2,657 teachers, collectively owing Rs 53.97 lakh, are yet to settle their fines.

The recovery process is actively underway, with the state education department engaging in communication with teachers through their school management and respective District Education Officers. It is noteworthy that the imposition of penalties occurred only after the identified errors were personally demonstrated to the teachers, underscoring a transparent and accountable approach.

In a strategic measure to prevent unchecked mistakes, the department ensures the appointment of verifiers within each evaluation team stationed at assessment centers. This initiative aims to enhance the accuracy of assessments and avoid the recurrence of errors in the future. The active pursuit of recovery and the transparent approach in dealing with errors underscore the commitment of the education department in maintaining the integrity of the assessment process.

Source: PTI

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