G. Swathika, an SSLC student from Chinnapatti Government High School, sustained 60 per cent burn injuries in a fire accident at her home on Tuesday night.
But, that did not deter her from appearing for English II paper examination on Wednesday.
On the intervention of Collector L. Subramanian and officials of the Education Department, Ms. Swathika wrote her examination with the help of a scribe at Government Rajaji Hospital here.
According to C. Amuthavalli, Chief Educational Officer, Ms. Swathika was studying besides a chimney lamp on Tuesday night. “Somehow the lamp fell down and fire spread fast injuring the girl. She sustained 60 per cent burns. The girl was a school topper,” Ms. Amuthavalli said.
The CEO received a request from the girl’s father, a washerman, to permit his daughter write the examination at around 7.30 a.m. on Wednesday. “As we were mulling over possibilities from where we can make the girl write the examination, the Collector called and asked me to make arrangements to enable her to write the examination at Government Rajaji Hospital, where she was admitted to,” she told The Hindu .
Ms. Swathika’s examination started at 10.45 a.m. under the supervision of a supervisor from the Education Department and a doctor in a separate ward. A. Aarthi, a physical education teacher from Mallapatti Government High School, transcribed whatever Ms. Swathika dictated.
A sealed question paper was brought from Elango Higher Secondary School. She completed the examination at 1 p.m.
“We will make arrangements so that she can take the remaining examinations from the hospital itself. She will be provided extra time for all the papers,” Ms. Amuthavalli added.
Authorities at the GRH said Ms. Swathika had sustained injuries on her back.
