CBSE board exams: New director in Dubai answers questions on CCTV, exam anxiety, paper evaluation

Dubai: In his first interview since taking charge as the Director of the Regional Office and Centre of Excellence (RO & CoE) of India’s Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in Dubai, Dr Ram Shankar has addressed key questions regarding the CBSE board exams that are underway, including the installation of CCTV cameras, exam counselling services, and the possibility of local answer paper evaluation.

With 13,520 students in grade 10 and 9,829 students in grade 12 appearing for their CBSE board exams in the UAE this year, ensuring smooth and fair conduct of exams is a top priority, Dr Shankar told Gulf News.

A new element this year is the mandatory installation of CCTV cameras in all exam centres, as per a CBSE circular issued on September 25, 2024. The measure aims to “deter malpractice and ensure transparency while also serving as a protective mechanism for students,” according to the CBSE.

“It is beneficial both ways,” Dr Shankar said. “First, protecting the concerns of students. In case of any allegations, we will have proof to check. Many schools here already had this facility, and those who didn’t were fully supportive and complied,” he said.

Counselling support for students

To help students cope with exam stress, CBSE launched its ‘annual psycho-social counselling service’ on February 1. The service will go on till April 4 as Grade 10 exams, which began on February 15, will run till March 18 and Grade 12 exams, which also started on February 15, will continue till April 4. The free counselling service will be offered after the declaration of the results as well.

A team of 66 counsellors, including principals, psychologists, and special educators, is providing guidance, with 51 experts based in India and 15 offering support from Nepal, Japan, Qatar, Oman, and the UAE, Indian media reports quoting the board said.

Dr Shankar said students from the UAE can also access the centralised service by calling the toll-free IVRS support at 1800-11-8004 for tips on stress-free exam preparation, time management techniques, and FAQs.

Asked about setting up a local counselling facility in Dubai, Dr Shankar said: “Once the office is fully operational, we can think in that direction. I’ll explore the possibilities and try my level best.”

However, he pointed out that every school has a counsellor and teachers are also getting trained to pick up mental health red flags.

Will paper evaluation be done here?

With the establishment of the CBSE Regional Office in Dubai, speculation has been rife about whether board exam answer papers will be evaluated locally. While CBSE is considering this, Dr. Shankar confirmed that the existing process will continue for now.

“It is in the pipeline. The board is thinking in that direction, but we first need to fulfill compliance requirements and set up the necessary infrastructure. It’s a process, and we have initiated it. In due course, it will start, and stakeholders will be informed well in advance,”* he explained.

When asked about a timeline, he said: “It is difficult to announce an exact date, but I am hopeful that within the next three years, we will be in a position to handle major activities from this regional office.”

However, he reassured students that the location of evaluation does not impact the quality or fairness of marking. “It doesn’t matter where or who evaluates their papers. But now that we have a regional office, we are working to introduce local evaluation in the coming years,” he added.

CBSE’s growing presence in UAE

CBSE has around 30,000 affiliated schools worldwide, including 256 in over 25 foreign countries. The UAE is home to more than four million Indian expats and has the highest number of overseas CBSE schools at 105. Most of the Indian students here study in CBSE schools.

The establishment of the Dubai office was officially announced by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Abu Dhabi on February 13, 2024. As CBSE’s first overseas regional office, it has been tasked with overseeing CBSE schools in all foreign countries.

Dr Shankar took charge as the founding director on July 2, 2024, and the office is currently operating from the Indian Consulate in Dubai. The new RO & CoE in Dubai is expected to improve support and communication with affiliated schools, facilitating better educational outcomes and alignment with India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.