Black ballpoint pens to be mandatory for Assam examinees

HSLC & AHM EXAMITIONS

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, April 29: Students can no longer use blue ink to write their papers in High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) and Assam High Madrassa (AHM) examitions held every year under the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA).

The SEBA has framed a new rule stipulating that HSLC and AHM examinees can only write their exams in black ballpoint pen from 2018. No blue ballpoint pens, no fountain pens and certainly no pens of any another colour whatsoever. Sources told The Sentinel on Saturday that the new rule is part of the SEBA's ambitious plan to completely digitalize the evaluation system in HSLC and AHM examitions. Technical experts have suggested to the SEBA that if examinees write their papers with black ballpoint pens, it would be easier to scan their copies for digital evaluation.

On the other hand, blue and other colored ink often cause technical problems in digital evaluation, these experts contend.

For the first time in its history, the SEBA has started digital evaluation of answer scripts of the HSLC and AHM examitions from this year. While only the General Mathematics paper is being digitally checked this year, the board has planned to extend the drive to other papers from next year.

Nearly 4 lakhs students sit for the HSLC and AHM examitions every year.

"There are merits and demerits of every color. But writing in black looks more impressive. Good handwriting always looks better in black color. If examinees have too much to write in limited time, then they should prefer ball point pens as these pens don't leak ink, and it's hard to write fast using gel or fountain pens. So I think the SEBA has taken a right decision to allow students to write their paper with black ballpoint pens," a senior evaluator of HSLC exam said.

Meanwhile, sources said evaluation of all answer scripts of HSLC and AHM exams 2017 is progressing at fast pace and the SEBA is expected to announce the results by early part of May.