Late Notice Puts Scribes in a Bind on Exam Day in Tamil Nadu

The onset of Class XII public exams in Tamil Nadu brought unexpected challenges for several scribes tasked with aiding differently-abled students, as last-minute notifications from the school education department left them scrambling to reach distant exam centers.

Allegations surfaced among scribes responsible for Tamil subjects in Class XI and XII that educational officers in the Coimbatore district failed to allocate exam duties until Thursday evening, causing significant logistical hurdles.

One scribe, speaking anonymously, recounted the abrupt notification received on Thursday evening, assigning duty at a center in Valparai block, nearly 100 kilometers away. Faced with impractical logistics, the scribe voiced concerns, ultimately securing a center in Pollachi South block, a more manageable 40 kilometers away.

The morning of the exams witnessed tense journeys for many scribes, navigating lengthy commutes to reach their designated centers. In some cases, students had to wait for tardy scribes, exacerbating an already stressful situation.

Challenges persisted as some scribes, despite duty allocations, were reassigned to different centers mid-morning, causing delays and confusion.

Criticism mounted regarding the haphazard allocation process, with many scribes voicing distress over distant assignments that deviated from norms dictating closer proximity to their workplaces.

Responding to the allegations, Chief Educational Officer R Balamurali refuted claims of mismanagement, asserting that duty allocations were made considering proximity to teachers’ workplaces. In Coimbatore, over 34,000 students, including private candidates, undertook the exams across 127 centers, with minor discrepancies reported.

Despite logistical hurdles, students expressed contentment with the Tamil language exam’s level of difficulty, while teachers noted the comparative ease of this year’s questions.

The incident underscores the importance of timely and organized planning in educational administration, particularly during high-stakes examination periods, to ensure minimal disruption and stress for students and educators alike.