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Guwahati, Sept. 9: Fake candidates, who earned a buck or two writing exams on behalf of others, have just lost their jobs in Assam.

The Board of Secondary Education, Assam, has made it mandatory for students appearing in matric examination to have their recent photographs pasted on their registration and admit cards. The examinees have to pose holding a board with their names and date for the photograph.

D. Mahanta, secretary of the board, which conducts the high school examination, said there were numerous reports of dummy students appearing in the matric examination at various centres across the state.

“Under the new system, students will have to submit photos for registration card as well as admit cards to appear in the HSLC examination. The placards in front of their chest will clearly mention their names and dates when the photos were taken. Many candidates give old photographs, which often do not match with their face at the time of examination. The photos will be scanned and stored in a system to distinguish between genuine and fake candidates,” he said.

Mahanta said students would first submit their photos with the registration forms to SEBA to appear for the Class IX final examination. Photos will also be required while collecting admit cards before appearing for the HSLC examination in Class X.

“The photos will be attached to the admit cards. We will try to despatch separate documents mentioning the names and photos of candidates to every examination centre for records,” the SEBA secretary said.

The step has generated mixed reactions. While the teaching community has welcomed the move, the All Assam Students’ Union is not satisfied.

AASU adviser Samujjal Bhattacharyya said: “The step may send a wrong signal to students, as they have to get themselves photographed much in the manner of offenders in police stations.”