Pimpri: Schools across the region are facing significant difficulties as they prepare for the Consolidated Assessment Test (PAT) Number One, which is scheduled to begin on Tuesday (October 22).

The issue stems from the fact that schools have not received enough question papers to match the number of students, raising concerns about how the exams will be conducted.

The PAT exam, organized by the School Education Department, is a key assessment for students in classes 3 to 9, focusing on subjects like the first language, English, and mathematics.

The problem came to light after several schools reported that they had received only a portion of the question papers they requested. In some cases, only 50% of the required papers were delivered, forcing headmasters to protest the situation.

Schools are now scrambling to find solutions, including making last-minute photocopies of the exam papers. However, this poses a challenge, particularly for schools that conduct morning sessions, as the time needed to make photocopies is limited.

Adding to the difficulties, many of the question papers are lengthy, spanning 10 to 12 pages. This not only increases the logistical burden but also imposes a financial strain on schools, which may not have the resources to cover the cost of photocopying such large amounts of material.

The exams are set to take place from October 22 to October 24, with question papers prepared by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT). These papers were distributed to schools from the district level, but many schools have not received the full quantity they need.

One headmaster, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, questioned how schools are supposed to conduct the exams with only 50% of the required materials.

"If the government cannot supply enough question papers based on the number of students, it would be better not to conduct the exams at all," the headmaster said. "The government has the records of student numbers. Why can't it print the required number of question papers?"

In response, Sangeeta Bangar, an administrative officer with the Education Department, stated that additional question papers have been requested from SCERT. She noted that the distribution was based on the U-DISE (Unified District Information System for Education) data from last year, which may explain the shortfall.