84 from Pottal school sit for exam

TIRUNELVELI: Of the total 86 students at Pottal Government High School in Tirunelveli district, 84 wrote the X examination at the Thilagar Vidyala High School at Kallidaikurichi, the examination centre, on Wednesday. The New Indian Express had carried a story on March 31“ Govt School ‘ Fails’ 25 Students Before Class X Public Exams”. The 25 students, mostly children of daily wagers, were asked not to attend classes two months ago, by the Pottal school authorities. Following the publication of the story, of the 25 students, 19 were allowed to write the examination and were issued with hall tickets. However, six were barred from the exams owing to lack of attendance. Subsequently Henri Tiphagne, Tamil Nadu Special Representative of NCPCR (National Commission for Protection of Child Rights), lodged a complaint in this regard to the NCPCR, which directed the state school education department on Tuesday to ensure all the six students were allowed to sit for the examination. Based on the NCPCR order, the education officials issued registered numbers to the six students and made arrangements for them to write the examination on Wednesday. Of the total 86 students 84 students, including the six students, appeared the examination at Thilagar Vidyala Higher Secondary School at Kallidaikurichi. Murugan, DEO of Cheranmahadevi Educational District, told Express 84 students, including the 6 students, wrote the examination, while two were absent. We went to the centre at morning and ensured that they wrote the examination without any difficulty. Chermakani, one of the students, said she was happy to write the examination.