Barring three subjects, exams will begin at 1.45 p.m. and end by 3.30 p.m.

Despite the State reeling under soaring mercury levels, the government seems to be least concerned about the difficulties of hundreds of students appearing for the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examination beginning Wednesday.

Barring three subjects, the examinations will be held from 1.45 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. The mathematics (March 19), social sciences (March 26), and second language – English (March 28) papers will be from 1.45 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.

“Students have been put to immense hardship by scheduling the examinations for afternoon. The temperature peaks during afternoons and those who appear for the SSLC examination would be the worst-affected,’’ says retired high school teacher P K Sreedevi of Kizhakkedam, near Kumaranallur.

Interestingly, the written replies Ms. Sreedevi received from various governmental agencies are weird to say the least. A written reply from the Pareeksha Bhavan of the Education Department cites lack of safe almirahs and strong rooms in schools as the reason.

“Question papers are now kept in lockers of treasuries and banks for security. Teachers have to reach the bank or the treasury concerned at 8 a.m. on each examination day to collect the question papers. The question papers would reach the schools only by 11 a.m.,” says the reply.

“There is practical difficulty in getting question papers early in the morning,’’ says the reply received by Ms Sreedevi on November 10 last year. The reply from the Chief Minister’s Office is more categorical and it says the State government has no plans to conduct the examination during morning hours. The Department of Education has also cited lack of security in schools to store question papers as the reason. When Ms. Sreedevi took up the matter with Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, it sought clarification from the General Education Department. After finding the reason a solid one, the commission has reached the conclusion that no rescheduling would be possible in the current circumstances.

When she approached the State Human Rights Commission, the reply she received was that the matter can be examined at a sitting to be held after three months. “The government looks more concerned about the safety of question papers than the safety of students. The soaring mercury is a matter of huge concern,’’ says Ms Sreedevi.

Meanwhile, Jimmy K. Jose, Additional Director of Public Instruction, told The Hindu that most students reach the schools in the mornings itself. “They need not worry about the rise in temperatures. We have made arrangements to avoid health complications due to the rise in day temperature,” he said. Drinking water would be arranged in all schools, Mr. Jose added.