CHENNAI: After the plus-2 question paper was leaked in WhatsApp last year, the Directorate of Government Examinations has formed additional flying squads to conduct surprise checks in Namakkal and Krishnagiri districts.
This year plus-2 exams are to begin on March 4 (Friday). More than 8.8 lakh students are to take the exams from 2,421 centres across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
Last year, an invigilator at a private school at Hosur was found with cell phone inside the examination hall during the exam. When the flying squad searched the phone, it was revealed that he had taken photos of the maths question paper and sent it to three other teachers on WhatsApp. Four teachers were arrested in this regard.
To prevent any such incidents from happening this year, additional flying squads have been formed in the sensitive districts of Namakkal, Krishnagiri, Erode and Tirupur. Generally, in many districts, private school teachers are not allotted examination related works.
“In Namakkal district, not even a single teacher from private schools was allotted examination duty. Around 3,000 government school teachers were allotted the examination work in the district,” teachers said.
All over the state, 4,000 squads have been formed to prevent malpractices in the exams. Apart from this, educational officials in each district will form their own squads and will visit the examination centres, officials said.
When enquired, officials said there was no blanket ban on employing private school teachers. But the district educational authorities were encouraged to accommodate more government school teachers in the examination works this year.
“Students will not be allowed to carry cellphones or any electronic item to the examination centres. Teachers should hand over their mobile phones to the chief invigilators once they enter the exam centres. This rule will strictly be implemented,” D.Vasundradevi, Director of government examinations, said.
If any private school is found violating the rules and indulges in malpractice, the exam centre will immediately be cancelled and the directorate will also recommend cancelling the recognition, she said.
A total of 8,39,697 students from 6,550 schools are to appear for the exams. This year also girls outnumber boys. In Chennai 51,091 students are to write the exam in 145 centres.
Totally, 106 prisoners from Palayamkottai, Tiruchy and Puzhal prisons are also to take the exams this year.
