Hyderabad, March 13: More than 5 lakh students will be appearing for the Telangana State Board of Secondary Education (BSE) public examinations, which begin on Saturday.
The School Education Department has made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the exam at 2,676 centres across the state.
A total of 5,28,239 students have registered for the examinations, which will continue until April 16.
The examination begins at 9:30 a.m., but the BSE has advised students to arrive at the centres by 8:30 a.m. It has also provided five minutes of grace time for entering the examination centres.
Students and their parents have been instructed to visit the assigned centre well in advance to familiarize themselves with the location and ensure timely arrival on the exam day.
The BSE has already dispatched hall tickets to the respective schools. Officials said that hall tickets can also be downloaded from the official website www.bse.telangana.gov.in
As many as 144 flying squads will be deployed to oversee the smooth conduct of the examinations and curb malpractice.
Candidates are prohibited from carrying any devices, such as mobile phones, calculators, and smart watches, into the centre. Authorities will make arrangements at the centre's entrance for the safe and free-of-cost deposit of personal belongings and electronic devices.
The SSC examinations this time are spread over a period of 33 days, which is unprecedented. The examination scheduled from March 14 to April 16 has triggered a debate in the academic circles.
Unlike in the past, when the examinations were completed in 10-12 days, the BSE this time has provided longer gaps between the examination papers.
The BSE has provided a gap of three days between the first and second language examinations, five days between Science Part II and Social Studies, and four days between most other papers, similar to the pattern followed by the CBSE and other boards.
While student unions have termed the schedule as unscientific, and school managements have also raised concerns, citing pressure on students, the Education Department has defended it, saying the objective is to reduce stress and improve results.
Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla has extended his best wishes to students appearing for the SSC examinations.
He encouraged students to approach examinations with confidence and a positive mindset, viewing them as an opportunity to express their learning rather than a source of stress. Emphasizing the importance of self-belief, he advised students to remain calm, manage their time well, and focus on giving their best. He also acknowledged the role of parents and teachers in supporting students and wished all examinees success in their academic journey.
Leaders of various political parties have also extended their best wishes to students.