154 jailbirds to appear for exams

CHENNAI: A total of 154 prisoners from all over Tamil Nadu will be writing their SSLC and Plus Two exams in this academic year. The Chennai and Coimbatore prisons are the two examination centres selected by the State Government.The number of prisoners appearing for the exam has doubled since last year, with 66 writing SSLC exams and 88 writing Plus Two exams, said S K Dogra, Additional Director General of Police.Last year, only 39 candidates wrote the SSLC exam, and 19 wrote their Plus Two exams,he said.Five teachers per prison have been appointed by NGOs and classes are conducted for six hours everyday. The ADGP added that the pass percentage of prisoners writing the board exams every year stood at 95.The Department of Prisons spends `17,310 as examination fees for these 154 candidates.There are about 22,000 prisoners in the State from nine Central prisons, three Special Prisons for Women, nine District Prisons,94 Sub Prisons, five Special Sub prisons 12 Juvenile Schools and two Open Jails.