Declare exam marks in public domain: NSF writes to NSSB

March 10, 2023 60 Views No Comment

Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 10

The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has asked the Chairman of the Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB) to declare the NSSB Preliminary examination marks in public domain. This was communicated by the NSF during a press conference here today.

In a letter addressed to NSSB chairman, NSF President Kegwayhun Tep while appreciating that the Combined Staff Recruitment Examination 2022 was conducted successfully, however expressed concern at clause No. 4 in the recent Notification dated March 7, 2023 wherein the Marks for the Combined Staff Recruitment Examination 2022 will be declared after the completion of CPT/Skill test.

The federation said it sees no rationale as to why the marks for the said examination should be declared only after the completion of CPT/Skill test. It asked the NSSB Chairman to ensure that marks for the said examination are published in public domain before commencement of CPT/Skill test to ensure transparency and fairness in the process of selection.

Objects to Viva-Voce component
The NSF also objected to the Viva-Voce component in the NSSB examination. In a letter to the Chief Secretary on March 8, the NSF sought immediate intervention to remedy various lacunas in the recruitment process through NSSB.

The federation demanded that the viva-voce component in all categories be reduced to 5% of the total marks against 12. 5% as advertised on September 9, 2022. However, it informed that the NSF is yet to be informed of any positive development on this.

“This has given rise to doubts as to whether the board will do justice to those truly deserving aspirants,” it stated. The NSF said that the justification given by the Board that the 12.5% marks allocation for viva-voce component cannot be rolled-back due to the provisions contained in the Nagaland Staff Selection Board regulations,2022 “is misleading as plain reading of section 45 (10), deals only with the maximum limit of marks that can be allotted for personal interview.”

“There is absolutely no mention of the minimum threshold anywhere in the regulation,” the NSF noted.

It stated that lowering the viva-voce marks to 5% would “minimize the chance for manipulation by the Board and ensure that the principle of ‘Right Person for the Right Job’ will be upheld.”

Failure to do so, it cautioned that the federation would be compelled to call for a boycott of the scheduled Computer Proficiency Test for Group II post and Skill Test for Group IV posts and also take up befitting democratic actions towards achieving this end.

Demands no room for manipulation
“There should not be any room for manipulation. It does not mean we undermine the credibility and integrity of the board members. But we feel insecure, the students community and aspirants feel insecure that 12.5% of the total marks is allotted for Viva-voce as well as personal efficiency test,” the NSF President said at the press conference.

Tep stated that the NSF wants to ensure that complete transparency is maintained. He expressed dismay that the government as well as the board has not been able to fulfill the federation’s demand.

“NSF, once again, reiterate our stand that until and unless the demand of the NSF, i.e 12.5% allotted to viva-voce and personal efficiency test is reduced to 5%, we will ensure that the final result of NSSB first phase of examination should not come out,” said Tep.

Plea for using Naga attire as school uniform
Tep meanwhile said that the federation feels the need to start introducing uniforms in the form of Naga attire in educational institutions in order to protect the cultural identity of the Naga people. This was endorsed by the federating units in the previous federal assembly.

He informed that the NSF has written to Nagaland Board of School Education, School Education Department as well as Higher Education Department “but most of the institutions, till today, did not comply to the request of the Federation.”

The NSF appealed to all educational institutions operating under the ‘Naga homeland’ to start using Naga attire as part of the uniform, may be once in a week or once in a month “so that our cultural identity is protected and also it is utilized in the fullest form.”

It meanwhile extended congratulation to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and hoped that under his leadership, a lot of development will take place in the state.

“We are also anticipating that the newly formed government will focus more attention for progress and growth of the Naga youths,” said Tep.