Barring the sudden death of a girl student in T. Narsipur near here, SSLC examinations began on a smooth note in Mysuru on Monday with Education Department officials claiming that all the students adhered to the State Government’s directions on wearing of uniform.
Deputy Director of Public Instruction, Mysuru, Ramachandra Raje Urs, said there were no instances of students boycotting the examinations over hijab. “The students who arrived for the examination centres wearing the hijab obliged the officials by removing the same before entering the examination hall. After finishing the examinations, they wore the hijab and returned home”, he said.
There were no reports of students protesting against the rules on hijab and returning without appearing for the examinations. The examinations were conducted “very smoothly” across the district, said Mr. Urs.
Out of the total 38,138 students who had registered themselves for the examinations across 149 centres in the district, about 634 students including 56 in Mysuru city were absent. The reasons for the absence is not yet known, he said.
Officials said all the students appearing for the SSLC examinations had been instructed to compulsorily wear their uniform. In the event of students coming in an attire that does not conform to the uniform, the teachers had been instructed to advise to counsel such students and ensure that they adhered to the rules.
The teachers had been told to make provision for a separate room in the examination centre for students coming with hijab to enable them to remove the same before entering the examination hall. Particular attention was paid to schools in minority dominated areas to ensure compliance with the rules on uniforms, the officials said.
All the students were subjected to thermal scanning and were advised to follow the precautionary measures against COVID-19 in all the examination centres.
Meanwhile, former Minister and BJP MLA representing Krishnaraja Assembly constituency in Mysuru S.A. Ramdas greeted the students arriving at the SSLC examination centre at St. Mary’s Convent with flowers, chocolate, masks and stationery items. He was accompanied by officials of the Department of Public Instruction, who instilled confidence among the students.
The City police had imposed prohibitory orders in a radius of 200 metres around all the examination centres while photocopying centres in the vicinity were also ordered to remain shut due to the examination.
Vigilance and flying squads were also deployed to prevent malpractice. CCTV cameras had also been installed at the examination centres.
