Class XII Board Exam Delayed as Centre Chief Goes Missing

Class XII Board Exam Delayed as Centre Chief Goes Missing

NewIndian Express

By Bagalavan Perier B

Published: 19th March 2016 05:17 AM

Last Updated: 19th March 2016 05:17 AM

VILLUPURAM: Students taking the Class XII State Board exams at the Government Higher Secondary school at Mampazhapattu village near Villupuram on Friday had a tough time. Not because they feared the Maths and Zoology papers, they couldn’t trace their allotted classrooms.

As the clock went past 10, when the exam was officially slated to begin, their surprise gave way to anxiety. Queries as to what was happening led them to discover that the exam-in-charge was nowhere to be found as he had forgotten all about the exam.

After frantic calls, he finally made it to the venue and with teachers pooled from nearby schools, the exam was conducted, albeit half-an-hour late.

The public exam began on March 4. Villupuram, one of the lowest ranked educational districts in the State, has 36,000 students appearing from 109 schools. The school at Mampazhapattu village is one such centre and Thirunavalur government high school headmaster Thangaraj was appointed as the superintendent of that exam centre.

After news spread, education department officials and chief education officer Mars rushed to the school for damage control and found that the centre superintendent and 17 teachers were missing. The CEO immediately called up Thangaraj, who was in his school at the time. Shocked education department officials desperately called teachers from nearby schools in Perumbakkam, Kanai and Kalpattu to set things in motion.

Parents of the students alleged that their wards were psychologically upset which could reflect in their marks. CEO Mars first denied this but later blamed the centre-in-charge and assured that an inquiry will be held. Last year, a board exam was delayed at Valavanur for the same reason.