In wake of question paper leak, TN bans private B.Ed colleges from exam activities

Following the leak of the Tamil Nadu Teacher Education University (TNTEU) question paper 'Creating an Inclusive School' in August 2024, the higher education department has put restrictions on private B.Ed. colleges this academic year.

These include activities such as conducting examinations in private college centers, establishing an evaluation center and utilizing their teaching faculties as invigilators for examinations.

These decisions to prevent malpractice, were recently taken by the higher officials of the higher education department and not TNTEU. Except for that, recent semester examinations were held under observation of the Directorate of Collegiate Education (DCE).

Official sources said that until last semester, examinations were held in government, aided and self-financing colleges, and invigilators were deployed from the same type of institution for examination work. But this time, the examinations that were held from March 26 to April 7 across the state, were held only in government and aided colleges. Students from self-financing colleges took their exams in government and aided colleges under invigilators from the same category of institutions, relieving self-financing colleges of all exam hassles.

One of the TNTEU administrative officers told TNIE, "Besides these reforms, evaluation centres were not even allotted to self-financing colleges this time. For instance, an evaluation centre which is allotted in a private college in Salem every year has been allotted to an aided college this time. Evaluation centres this time have been formed only at nine government and aided colleges and at TNTEU."

"Apart from this, another requirement has been added for semester paper evaluation in which evaluating staff must have at least three years of teaching experience. The authorisation letter of the principal and a photocopy of the consent of the staff from TNTEU must be carried. The evaluation will be held from April 25," he stated.

A faculty of one government-aided B.Ed college welcomed this move and told TNIE that previously, TNTEU had received several complaints of malpractice from private colleges.

"Even so, TNTEU authorities were sluggish and did not act in any tight manner. In the wake of the question paper leak, stringent restriction was put on private colleges by the higher education department from participating in exams. Now, DCE officers are keeping tabs on TNTEU's exam duties," he added.