In the midst of escalating ethnic violence, an official disclosed that the number of students participating in this year’s Class 12 state board examinations in Manipur has experienced a substantial drop, with a decrease of approximately 5,000 students, bringing the total to over 31,000. Comparatively, in the previous year, more than 36,000 students took part in the Council of Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate Exams (COHSEM) conducted across 120 examination centers in the state.

Highlighting the prevailing law and order situation, COHSEM Chairman T Ojit Singh stated that both the number of students and examination centers have diminished this year in contrast to the figures from the previous year. As the examinations commence, around 31,000 students are expected to appear at 111 designated centers.

Originally slated to be conducted at 114 centers, the examination plans underwent adjustments due to the prevailing situation in outlying areas of hills and valley districts. Consequently, three schools, situated in Kakching, Imphal East, and Chakpikarong, were excluded from the list of examination centers. Students who were initially slated to take the exams at these schools have been redirected to report at alternative centers, as stated by the official.

Providing a geographical breakdown, Singh outlined that of the 111 examination centers, 75 are situated in six valley districts, while the remaining 36 are located in the hills. The number of students opting for Science streams is 22,631, while those pursuing Arts streams amount to 8,100.

To uphold the integrity of the examination process, a robust measure has been implemented, with a total of 70 flying squads deployed to monitor and deter any attempts to use unfair means during the tests. This multifaceted approach reflects the authorities’ commitment to ensuring a fair and secure examination environment amidst the existing challenges posed by the prevailing circumstances.

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