Question paper on Facebook; Anna University orders probe

CHENNAI: Getting a question paper a day before the examination is a surprise. But what if you get it on a social networking site? Many students of computer science, information technology, electronics and communication engineering and bio-medical engineering of Anna University couldn't believe their eyes when they received on June 28, on a Facebook page, the question paper for the next day's exam. It was the last paper of the second semester.

M Sekar, member of the convenor committee of Anna University and dean, college of engineering, Guindy, said an internal probe had been ordered into the leak. Confirming reports that the leak had led to the announcement of a retest on July 31, Sekar said the ECE students were badly affected. "We have taken all measures to avoid long delays in the evaluation and results," he said.

He said the inquiry had found that the students received the question paper through different media. "It reportedly first appeared on an online education forum. Many received it by e-mail in PDF format. There are reports that the paper was also available through Facebook and SMS," he said.

On Thursday, the university had written to all affiliated colleges seeking a re-test of the June 29 'Electronic Device and Circuits' (EDC) exam on July 31. Sekar said the re-test was likely to affect final year students awaiting arrear clearances of the EDC.

For the re-test, Sekar refused to say which printing press had been given the work. "Normally, the question papers are printed by the controller of examinations department at a 'highly confidential' printing facility. After printing, the sealed question sheet packs are sent to the exam centres where they will be opened on the exam day," he said.

The principal of a leading self-financing college in the city said the leaked papers that appeared online had exam codes. "That proves that the leak was a deliberate attempt by someone. Some of my students were really surprised. Since EDC is a comparatively tougher paper, producing the most arrears, nobody believed it until they saw the paper the next morning," he said.

On Thursday, the university had written to all affiliated colleges seeking a re-test of the June 29 'Electronic Device and Circuits' (EDC) exam on July 31