By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 8: Education Minister, Rakkam A Sangma on Friday said he has directed officers to take necessary steps regarding incorrect answer keys in the MTET, 2023.
After meeting a delegation of Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) education cell at his official residence, Sangma assured that evaluation and correction will be done based on the answers of candidates.
KSU assistant education secretary, Shelkitbok Kharbani said the minister assured to look into the concerns of the MTET aspirants.
According to him, Sangma also assured that he will direct his officers to rectify the answer keys if there are any errors in order to remove the doubts of the candidates.
In a representation submitted to Sangma, Kharbani said it came to the attention of the union as well as many candidates that a significant number of answer keys provided for Paper I (LP level) and Paper II (UP level) contained inaccuracies.
According to him, this caused considerable confusion, frustration and anxiety among the candidates who invested their time, effort and resources in preparing for the exam.
“As the Minister in-charge of Education, it falls under your jurisdiction to oversee and uphold the standards of the education sector, ensuring fairness, transparency, and integrity in all aspects. Therefore, from the Union, we kindly implore your intervention in this matter to promptly address the inaccuracies in the answer keys and rectify the situation,” Kharbani said.
The KSU requested the minister to initiate an immediate and comprehensive review of the answer keys by a panel of subject experts. It insisted that the review should be conducted meticulously to identify and rectify errors, thus ensuring accuracy of the assessment process.
The union urged Sangma to prioritise open and transparent communication with the affected candidates.
Kharbani said it is crucial that the union is kept well-informed about the steps being taken to rectify the errors. Transparency will help alleviate the concerns and frustrations of the candidates and ensure their trust in the examination system, he said.
“The MTET exam holds significant weight in determining the future of many aspiring educators who seek to serve our nation’s youth. In light of this, the union humbly beseeches you to take swift and decisive action to rectify the inaccuracies in the answer keys, thus upholding the credibility of the exam,” Kharbani said.
The KSU believed that the minister’s intervention in the matter will serve the best interests of not just the affected candidates but also the broader educational system.
“Your decisive and swift action on this matter will not only rectify the current situation but also contribute to the continuous improvement and effectiveness of the examination system,” Kharbani added.