Senior drop-outs appear for Class 8 exam to bag jobs

Chennai

John Kinslan, 34, who works in the transport business, on Wednesday wrote his Class 8 government exam by private study at Don Bosco school, Perambur. The Class 8 pass certificate is mandatory to be eligible to get a badge (license) for driving public service vehicle like a taxi, autorickshaw and bus. John had discontinued his studies in Class 7 as he had wanted to work. “As I am already in the transport business I want to get the license to drive a commercial vehicle for which I need to pass class 8, which made me write the exam this year,” said John.

It is extremely commendable that John has been preparing for the exam all on his own and is hopeful of passing it too. He learnt of it through the newspapers two years ago and decided to write it this year. The Directorate of Government Examinations (DGE) conducts the exam every year and candidates apply to DGE as private candidates to write the exam.

A total of 15,000-odd candidates wrote the exam across the state, including about 300 from Chennai  this year. It is not only Kinslan who is writing the class 8 public exam (private study) but several others in his age group too. Others, like Prabhu, 35, were writing it to be able to get a job and promotion in existing jobs.  

Former director of government examinations K. Devarajan said that the number of candidates writing the examination had remained mostly the same for several years.

“Several candidates write this exam as they either want to get a public service driver’s license or an assistant level job in a government department or continue schooling as they may have dropped out of school a long time ago,” he said. Apart from those in the age group of 25-40, even school drop-outs in the 13-16 age group also appear for this exam. The exam started on April 18 and will end on April 23.