DMK Member of Parliament P Wilson has urgently appealed to the Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, to intervene and rectify the allocation of examination centres for Tamil Nadu's B.Ed students. The students are scheduled to appear for the crucial SWAYAM exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
Arbitrary Centre Allocation Sparks Concern
In a letter dispatched on Saturday, Wilson highlighted a significant logistical issue affecting numerous candidates from Tamil Nadu. He pointed out that the NTA has allotted exam centres located far outside the students' home state. More than 50 students from Thanjavur district alone have been assigned to centres in the neighbouring state of Kerala and various cities across Karnataka.
The MP strongly criticised this decision, labelling it as arbitrary and unjustifiable. He emphasised that such an allocation is detrimental to the interests of the student community, creating an unnecessary and severe hardship.
Economic Burden and Mandatory Requirement
Wilson underscored the practical difficulties and financial strain this imposes on the examinees. "Under these circumstances, it will be difficult for them to travel hundreds of kilometres. It imposes an unnecessary economic burden on students from economically weaker backgrounds," he stated in his communication to the minister.
The situation is particularly critical because the SWAYAM certificate is not optional. It is a mandatory document for obtaining the B.Ed course completion certificate, making it impossible for students to skip this examination. The SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds) exam is a pivotal assessment for aspiring teachers.
Immediate Action Sought Before Exam Dates
With the examination dates set for December 14 and 15, time is of the essence. Wilson's appeal calls for immediate intervention from the Union Education Ministry to direct the NTA to re-allocate centres within Tamil Nadu itself. The primary demand is to ensure students can appear for the test without enduring long, costly, and stressful journeys to other states.
This issue has brought the focus back on the logistical planning of national-level exams and the need for sensitivity towards regional accessibility. The students and authorities now await a prompt response and corrective action from the concerned ministries to resolve this pressing concern before the exam commences.
