Pune: Maharashtra State Council of Examination (MSCE) on Monday clarified that women candidates will be permitted to wear a hijab, burqa or dupatta while appearing for the Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), examination on June 28, provided their faces remain clearly visible throughout the test.The council said the exam will be conducted under continuous live CCTV surveillance in all examination halls. Since the entire examination process relies on facial identification, biometric verification and video monitoring, candidates’ faces must remain uncovered during the test.The clarification comes after much discussion on social media about the ban and emails to the council seeking revocation of the ban.“If the face is covered, invigilators can’t see if students are talking to each other. Also, if a woman candidate is told to show her covered face owing to suspicion, there can be unnecessary questions about it. Women candidates can wear any clothing of their choice, including a dupatta, scarf (odhni), or burqa. But to prevent malpractice, there must be no cloth or covering above the neckline, specifically on the ears, head, or face, while the candidate is in the exam hall. During the actual examination period inside the classroom, the candidate’s entire face must be clearly visible for live CCTV monitoring,” Nandkumar Bendse, chairman of Maharashtra State Council of Examination, said in the notification.Bedse said the council found a candidate cheating by hiding a cellphone inside the dupatta/burqa in another exam and measures were necessary to prevent candidates from hiding cellphones or electronic devices (such as Bluetooth earpieces) under head coverings or dupattas.The council cited a Bombay high court ruling that maintained that educational institutions can prescribe dress codes for security and discipline without violating constitutional rights.
