Chennai is buzzing with anticipation as the Tamil Nadu Board of Higher Secondary Education kicks off its Class 12 examinations today, March 2. Over 8.27 lakh students are set to appear for these crucial exams, which will run until March 26, marking a significant milestone in their academic journeys.
The Directorate of Government Examinations has meticulously planned the schedule. While the 12th standard public exams commence immediately, the SSLC (Class 10) exams will follow from March 11 to April 6 across the state. This year, 7,99,692 regular students and 27,783 private candidates will test their mettle at 3,412 centers under stringent security measures.
In a notable policy shift aligned with state education guidelines, the government has discontinued public exams for Class 11. However, supplementary exams for those who previously failed are scheduled from March 3 to 27 at 2,615 centers, catering to 25,051 students including 19,107 school students and 5,944 private ones.
Adding an inspiring touch, 281 inmates from Tamil Nadu’s prisons will also sit for the higher secondary exams this year. To ensure smooth conduct, over 49,000 teachers will serve as room invigilators daily, backed by more than 4,900 flying squads to prevent malpractices and uphold transparency.
Chennai district alone hosts 64,359 students from 578 higher secondary schools—30,663 boys and 33,696 girls—across 250 centers, plus 3,157 private candidates. Robust logistics include five question paper storage depots, five answer script collection centers, and 65 distribution routes. A workforce of 6,150 personnel, including chief invigilators, departmental officers, flying squad members, room invigilators, scribes, and non-teaching staff, stands ready.
Officials emphasize that every precaution has been taken statewide to conduct the exams fairly and seamlessly, setting the stage for a successful evaluation process.