Matriculation supplementary exams begin

Cuttack, Aug 22 (PTI) The high school certificate supplementary examinations-2011�began in as many as 333 centres across the state today and it would continue till September 8.At least 61168 students, including 11965 ex-regular students, are appearing the supplementary matriculation examination conducted by the Orissa Board of Secondary Education, officials said.The Orissa board is perhaps the only one in the country which gives a second chance to students to clear the Matriculation examination in the same year after the annual examinations held in May.Students who would clear the supplementary exams, results of which are likely to be out in the month of October or November shall be allowed to pursue higher education in the ongoing academic session.While the ex-regular students are writing their papers in 80 examination centres, nearly 50,000 regular students are appearing the exams in 253 centres, sources said adding that the first day of the examination on Monday went off smoothly without any major untoward incident reported from any centre.At least 53 squads have been engaged throughout the state to ensure that the students are not resorting to unfair means during the examination."Besides, 22 squads at board-level are also on the job and for the smooth functioning and better coordination, two control rooms are operating round-the-clock," informed BSE president Satyakam Mishra.