MP Board Exams Start Amid Dripping Roofs, Students Forced to Sit on Mats in Rain

Shajapur, Madhya Pradesh: The first day of the 2026 board exams for Classes 5 and 8 in Shajapur district exposed severe negligence by the education department. At the government secondary school in Piplia Gopal village, students had to sit on thin mats while attempting the Hindi paper as rainwater leaked through the school’s damaged roof.

Students Drenched During Exams

Around 144 students were taking the Hindi exam when the heavy rain caused water to drip onto them. Buckets and mugs were placed in an attempt to control the leakage, but the mats and floor became wet, soaking the students’ clothes. The exam was scheduled from 2 PM to 5 PM.

This same school had been in the news just three days ago for forcing students to clean the toilets, highlighting ongoing issues with infrastructure and student welfare.

Other Exam Centers Also Struggle

In the Shujalpur area, students at a government school in Bhilkhedi had to sit on the ground to attempt their papers due to a lack of furniture at the designated exam center in the Manglik Bhavan. Development Block Education Officer D.S. Malviya stated that delayed transportation was the reason for the furniture shortage and assured that arrangements were later made to resolve the issue.

Board Confirms No Malpractice

Despite the infrastructural challenges, no cases of cheating were reported at any of the 38 exam centers in Shujalpur. Spot inspections were carried out at schools including Saraswati Shishu Mandir, Ascent Public School, and Government Boys’ School, confirming that exams were conducted fairly.

Key Points

1. Students at Piplia Gopal secondary school had to sit on mats while water dripped from the leaking roof during the Hindi exam.
2. School staff tried to control the water using buckets and mugs, but the mats and floor were soaked.
3. The school had recently been criticized for forcing students to clean toilets.
4. In Bhilkhedi, students sat on the ground due to a lack of furniture at the exam center in Manglik Bhavan.
5. The BEO attributed the furniture shortage to delayed transportation, which was later rectified.