As many as 39,752 students appeared for the Plus Two examination at 96 centres in the educational districts of Salem and Sankari here on Thursday.
A total of 19,343 boys and 20,409 girls in 267 government, government aided and matriculation higher secondary schools appeared for the Tamil Paper I exam on the first day.
As many as 50 flying squads headed by Chief Educational Officer K. Selvakumar visited various centres.
Basic facilities, including, drinking water, generators, were made available in all the centres.
Prison officials said that four prisoners, from the Salem Central Prison appeared for the examination at Puzhal Central Prison in Chennai.
They were earlier sent to Chennai and would be brought back once the examinations are over, they added.
Collector K. Maharabushanam inspected the centre at Ammapet Government Boys Higher Secondary School.
In Namakkal district, as many as 31,112 students took up examination at 74 centres on Thursday.
Flying squad with 250 teachers and 1,700 hall supervisors were posted for duty.
Question papers were kept in 10 strong rooms and were transported to the respective centres.
Also, 18 headmasters from other districts were also posted as Chief Supervisors, said Chief Educational Officer S. Gobidoss.
