An additional 1.33 lakh students will be writing the SSC exams in English medium this year compared to previous year and correspondingly, the number has come down in Telugu medium. The exams are beginning from March 22.
The Director of Government Examinations B. Manmadha Reddy said majority of English medium students are from the Zilla Parishad schools where 84,260 students are appearing compared to just 1,388 last year.
The sudden rise is due to the success schools started a few years ago where English medium was introduced and the first batch will be taking the SSC exams this year.
Overall, 12,04,201 candidates including 10.6 lakh regular students are appearing for the examinations.
Only 1.44 lakh students are appearing privately and the number has come down this year as such students now prefer the Open School system.
Students will be allowed to enter the examination halls 45 minutes before the scheduled time of 9.30 a.m. and they will not be allowed inside 15 minutes after the exam commences.
Strong action
Mr. Reddy said teachers involved in malpractice on examination duties would be dealt under Act 25/97 that stipulates fines ranging from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. One lakh and imprisonment from three to seven years.
Teachers were sensitised on the Act during the video conferences and told about the action to be initiated under the Act.
He said officials have promised to ensure power supply during the exam time and the APSRTC has assured to run special buses.
He said 80 per cent schools have sufficient furniture and wherever there is shortage, officials were asked to procure from other schools. Replying to a question, he said over one lakh students downloaded hall tickets from the web so far.
