Officials err,talent search exam turns a trial for students

Students who turned up for the talent search examination,conducted by the Maharashtra State Council of Examinations (MSCE),at St Vincent’s High School on Sunday were in for a shock as their roll numbers were not displayed on the board there. And many among them returned even without writing the examination. Council officials,however,said they were not aware of the development.

Only those clearing the examination will be eligible to sit for the National Talent Search Examination. St Vincent’s was the lone centre in the city,where as many as 890 students were supposed to attend the examination. “The confusion happened in the morning when some students came and checked the display board and found that their roll numbers were missing from the list. Many of them left the campus,thinking they had come to the wrong centre. They had collected Rs 300 from each student for the exam. They should at least have been careful about the roll numbers,” said Ambikanath Parida,a parent.

Ashok Singh,another parent,said,“The problem was that the people who were at the school were those who have been called to invigilate. There was no representative from the council that held the examination. Most of those present were clueless as to what to do.”

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Swati Deshmukh,student of St Anne’s High School who appeared for the examination,said the confusion had left her tense at the beginning of the examination. “I was blank for the initial 15 minutes; I could not think of anything. However,I got my composure back in the second half; I hope to get a good score.”

Council officials,however,maintained they were not aware of the goof-up. Commissioner Mahavir Mane said,“I am not yet aware of this incident. I have not yet received any complaint from either invigilators at the school or any parent.”