“Hello, this is the school education department. Do you need any help in taking up the supplementary exam?” asks Rani (name changed), an operator with the department’s helpline 14417.

In an effort to ensure that students take up higher studies, the department has been calling up every student who has not passed the board exams, urging them to apply for the supplementary exams.

“We have completed over 15,000 calls to Class 12 students and have almost finished following up with Class 10 students,” said an official from the School Education Department.

The department’s helpline asks students whether they require help with fees or the application process to register for the supplementary tests. They also ask whether the child needs extra coaching to clear the tests. “If the child is disabled, we enquire whether he/she requires a scribe and coordinate with the Chief Education Officer of that district to ensure that proper assistance is provided. Follow ups are taken up regularly,” said Rani.

The supplementary exams for Class 12 students will begin on June 25 and for Class 10 and 11 students, it will be held on July 4.

The department has instructed all government school principals to conduct coaching classes for those taking up supplementary exams. “We have prepared materials for the coaching. Since time is short, we cannot teach them the entire syllabus again. So only the important concepts are given a revision,” said an official from the department.

However, students require more than just coaching classes to clear the exams. While some are not even aware of these classes, many cannot take up these exams due to family commitments. R. Ajish has to clear four papers in his Class 10 supplementary exam. “We plan to join Ajish into an Industrial Training Institute after clearing the supplementary exams. He’s quite terrified of the exams and requires more encouragement which has been difficult to come by,” said Usha, his mother.

S. Devi, however, will not be taking up the Class 10 supplementary exams as she has to take care of her mother. “My dad has to work to provide for us and my grandmother is old. My sister and I have to care for my mother who had met with an accident,” she said.

Tamil Nadu Post Graduate Teachers’ Association (TNPGTA) general secretary S. Prabhakaran stated that there is a need to motivate parents and students on the importance of taking up the supplementary exams. “The government must bear the exam fees. Also, students should receive help from psychologists to cope up with their stress and other emotions when they see peers moving ahead of them and doing higher studies,” he said.