Chennai: Flying squad members deployed to monitor Tamil Nadu’s public examinations say they are being sidelined at several centres, barred from entering classrooms while exams are underway but blamed when malpractice occurs.A total of 4,900 teachers are on flying squad duty this year. Chief invigilation officers in and around Chennai told TOI that the squad members are confined to checking students as they enter the examination halls—a task many of them say defeats the very purpose of their deployment.Last week, the chief education officer in Villupuram sought an explanation from a squad member who failed to stop a student, who carried “bits” into the exam hall. “A flying squad is only effective when it’s inside the classroom, gauging students’ behaviour and ensuring vigilance,” said one teacher assigned to a squad. “Checking them outside is chaotic and doesn’t serve the purpose,” she said.However, director of govt examinations K Sasikala said flying squad aren’t allowed inside halls during exams for more than two years now. “For rigorous monitoring, we have special squads assigned to centres that are identified as vulnerable by the chief invigilation officers. Only they are allowed to enter halls during exams,” she said.
