26 May 2020  |   06:08am IST

Bailancho Ekvott demands inquiry into setting of ‘inappropriate’ exam paper

Team Herald

Margao: Auda Viegas, a former English question paper setter and convenor of NGO Bailancho Ekvott has criticised the use of inappropriate questions in the SSC English paper and has demanded for a thorough inquiry.

 Viegas has also demanded that Goa Board take action against the person who set the paper, for the damage caused to the State and the mindset of the young children.  "It is a clearly inappropriate and manipulating the minds of young children against the government and Goa. It is an outburst of a biased English paper setter, overlooked by the Chief Paper Setter, against subsequent Congress and BJP governments. Job seekers  have been making Portuguese passports for the past several years from Goa,” said Auda.

“How could an Indian English paper setter be instrumental in putting such thoughts, i.e. ‘You have taken the right decision. Without influence and money, it’s very difficult for Goans to get jobs in Goa’. What is the insinuation? Where is the need for an English paper setter to put such ideas that to get a job one needs to have lots of influence and money?" Auda questioned.

She added that this is not what an ‘Indian teacher’ is expected to inculcate in the minds of the young future generation. “Just like in any other country in the world, hard work is equally important, whether in India or abroad" quipped Auda.

"It is pertinent to note that it is not just jobs that attract people from everywhere to aspire for Portuguese citizenship, but other reasons as well. For those who have chosen to live in Goa and make it their own, there are several self-employment schemes and opportunities they could avail of. It is more than a lifestyle issue and not just jobs and money" Auda added.

Pointing out that she is an ex-Chief Examiner/Paper Setter/Moderator for English with the Goa Board for years, she further criticised the SSC English paper setter and added that it’s the main responsibility of the Chief Paper setter to ensure that all the question papers are neutral and applicable to youngsters.