Government school teachers in Tamil Nadu have proposed a series of reforms — including installation of CCTV cameras and computerised random allocation of examination personnel — to strengthen the conduct of Class 10 and Class 12 public examinations in 2026-27. The demands, submitted to the state school education department, come in the wake of questions over unusually high concentrations of perfect scores at certain private schools.

What Triggered the Demands

Irregularities in recent examination results have fuelled the push for reform. In one private institution, more than 100 of its 148 Class 12 candidates secured centum scores in Chemistry in 2025, while none achieved the same in 2026. Such sharp swings at select private schools had already prompted the department to deploy officers on special duty to oversee examinations at those institutions in 2026.

Additionally, teachers cited cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act against government teachers serving as invigilators. Students had alleged sexual assault, while the accused teachers maintained they were checking for malpractice — a dispute that, according to teachers, underscores the need for independent surveillance at examination halls.

The Case for CCTV Surveillance

R. Srinivasan, state general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Higher Secondary Headmasters' Association, advocated camera surveillance as both a safeguard for students and a tool for improving accountability. He cited circulars from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Karnataka's school education department that reportedly mandated CCTV coverage, and called for similar arrangements in Tamil Nadu.

Officials at the Directorate of Government Examinations, however, flagged the scale of the challenge. With more than 7,000 examination centres across the state, each containing multiple halls, and roughly 8.5 lakh candidates accommodated at 20 students per hall, an estimated 42,000 halls would require coverage — a cost concern that officials say complicates blanket implementation.

As a practical alternative, Srinivasan proposed equipping randomly selected centres with plug-and-play cameras during examination periods, reducing the financial burden while maintaining a credible deterrent against malpractice.

Other Concerns Raised by Teachers

Beyond surveillance, teachers raised several operational concerns. They argued that lengthy gaps between examination papers weaken students' concentration and called on the department to reduce inter-paper intervals. Assigning government teachers to invigilation duty at private schools, they added, disrupts regular instruction for lower-class students left without adequate cover.

A specific provision permitting chief invigilators to use mobile phones during the first hour of examinations — ostensibly to relay attendance and administrative details — has also drawn criticism. Teachers demanded its withdrawal, citing the risk of misuse to facilitate malpractice.

The Push for Transparent Personnel Allocation

Perhaps the most significant systemic demand is for fully computerised, randomised assignment of all examination personnel. Teachers alleged that local influence has sometimes determined invigilation postings, allowing lenient supervisors to be deployed at favoured schools. Randomisation, they argued, would ensure consistent and impartial supervision across all centres statewide, removing the scope for manipulation at the appointment stage.

The school education department has not publicly responded to the full set of proposals; its next steps on the CCTV cost question and the invigilator allocation reform are expected to shape the examination framework for 2026-27.