Nizamabad SSC Exam Row Resurfaces, 9 Officials Suspended
HYDERABAD: Fresh concerns have emerged over the conduct of Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations after a recent incident in Nizamabad on Wednesday, where a question paper was circulated on social media after the exam had begun. Authorities suspended nine officials across multiple centres following the episode.
Director of school education E. Naveen Nicolas said the case did not amount to a pre-exam leak. “This was not really a paper leak. It was an invigilator who took a photograph of the question paper and circulated it around 12.30 pm,” he said.
The incident follows a pattern seen in earlier cases across the state, where question papers were photographed inside exam halls and shared through messaging platforms shortly after exams started.
Teachers flag pressure, seek balanced accountability
Teachers’ unions said the response to such incidents often places pressure on all staff, including those not involved. Chava Ravi, state president of the Telangana State United Teachers’ Federation, said invigilators are working under heightened scrutiny.
He said such incidents create unnecessary pressure on both students and teachers conducting exams properly. “District authorities need to give invigilators the confidence to carry out their duties without fear while maintaining strict checks,” he added. Ravi also called for stronger security measures and clearer safeguards alongside action against those responsible.
Parents question system’s ability to prevent repeat incidents
Parents said the issue reflects deeper systemic gaps. Venkat Sainath, a parent and education activist, said incidents of this scale could force students to retake exams.
“If a violation of this scale is confirmed, students may have to face the burden of writing the paper again. How can invigilators be so careless? The incident cannot be dismissed as a minor lapse,” he said. He termed the episode a failure of command and control and sought assurances against recurrence.
Sainath added that similar incidents have surfaced every few years, indicating a lack of adequate safeguards. He pointed out that national boards such as CBSE and ICSE have conducted exams without such disruptions.
Past incidents show recurring pattern across districts
- 2018: Multiple teachers were allegedly involved in sharing question papers on WhatsApp before exams began.
- 2023: In Vikarabad, an invigilator was arrested after a paper circulated minutes into the exam; others were suspended. In Warangal, a Hindi paper was shared during the exam, leading to arrests and departmental action.
- 2025: A case in Nalgonda involved two teachers and others circulating a question paper.
