Chennai: Thirteen students of Tiruvalluvar higher secondary school in Gudalur in Theni district who should be studying plus-1 this year are facing the prospect of never writing the exams again as their school’s pursuit of 100 per cent results in class X exams landed them in trouble.
The school management had asked them to appear for class X exams as private candidates as their academic performance was perceived as average. But the government examinations regional directorate didn’t allow them to write exams saying they did not attend the science practical training for private candidates.
Students claimed they attended the training in the school. But, after protest by parents, they were allowed to write three exams. Enquiry by the regional directorate said the acknowledgement letters submitted on behalf of the students were bogus as their names were not present in the register.
The regional director in his order dated June 24 cancelled the permission for writing exam to 13 students and also banned them writing the exam for life.
It seems the acknowledgement letters had only the seal, not the signatures.
Parents, students and activists from Students Federation of India protested in front of DPI on Monday demanding cancellation of the order and to release the results of 13 students.
“The school in its pursuit of 100 per cent results created this mess. The parents unaware that their wards were going to write the exam as private candidates as all the students attended the school regularly,” said Rajesh, district secretary, SFI, Theni district.
M.Swathi, one of the affected students, said, “I was studying in the same school from Class VI to X. I wrote the quarterly, half-yearly and revision tests in the school. I didn’t do anything wrong and I don’t know why I was barred from writing the exams.”
When asked for comment Prabavathi, headmaster, Tiruvalluvar higher secondary school, said, “The school is still trying to help the parents.” On why these students were asked to write the exam as private candidates, she said only the school management can answer the question. The school is partly aided and self-finance school. The parents said Director of School Education S..Kannappan had assured them of cancelling the ban order.
