TV
A surprise midnight decision to postpone the much-anticipated special OTET exam led to outrage among thousands of teaching aspirants across Odisha. Many reached centres early in the morning on Sunday, unaware of the sudden change, and were left frustrated.
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According to sources, the special Odisha Teachers Eligibility Test (OTET), scheduled for 9.00 AM today, was abruptly postponed late last night by the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), sparking widespread discontent. The notice was released after midnight at around 12.35 AM, leaving many candidates uninformed and confused.
Numerous teaching aspirants, particularly those from remote areas, had already reached their examination centres when they learnt about the cancellation. Some expressed anger and disappointment over the mismanagement, questioning the system’s preparedness and transparency.
A private source said that a handwritten question paper had gone viral on mobile phones a day before the exam, prompting the sudden halt. However, the School and Mass Education Department (S&ME) attributed the decision to ‘technical reasons’.
The BSE has not released an official response so far regarding the postponement.
This OTET exam was meant for over 75,000 teachers who had been appointed before the 2011–12 academic year without appearing for OTET. The unexpected cancellation has led to mounting pressure on the exam board, with educationists and teachers holding the BSE directly accountable.
Critics also alleged that long-standing officials in the board have contributed to the chaos due to systemic inefficiencies.
Now, the focus turns to when and how the to-be-rescheduled OTET will be conducted, and whether the board can ensure transparency and fairness in the process.
