COIMBATORE: A girl who had a running nose was not allowed to use her handkerchief inside the Board examination hall. Educationists and doctors have termed the decision of officials as ridiculous and absurd.
There are no rules in the book prohibiting the use of handkerchiefs inside exam halls. The guidelines by the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Government Examinations (TNDGE) directs the invigilators and flying squads to restrict its use, not prohibit it. The TNDGE director, K Devarajan said if handkerchiefs were not restricted, the students could write answers on them. It was practically difficult to check students individually, so instructions were given not to allow handkerchiefs.
Dr C Srinivasan, a paediatrician, said that with viral infection spreading, students with infections could transmit to others in the exam hall if they were stopped from using kerchiefs.
Educationist Prince Gajendra Babu said students would feel more confident with a kerchief in their hand, particularly when they had a running nose or fever. Using a kerchief to wipe their noses was unavoidable then.
D Srinivasan, a psychiatrist, said the restriction could affect the students psychologically when their desperate need was denied. They would become preoccupied with it rather than answering the question paper. This might bring down their confidence level.
Experts suggested that if the department was keen on not allowing such objects, they should give disposable tissues to students.
Devarajan said students could show to the invigilators that they hadn’t written anything on the handkerchief and then use it.