Wrong nameplate at PSSSB exam centre creates confusion among candidates

Numerous candidates appearing for the Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board (PSSSB) examination in Ludhiana were faced trouble on Sunday morning due to a glaring mismatch between admit cards and the nameplate outside the exam centre.

The cards listed the venue as ‘School of Eminence, Mundian Kalan, Chandigarh Road’, but the board outside the school premises still read ‘Government Senior Secondary School, Mundian Kalan’. The failure to update the signage left candidates baffled, with many rushing between two different schools in search of the correct centre.

“Even Google Maps did not show any School of Eminence here. It directed us to Guru Arjan Dev Nagar, nearly 5 km away. We wasted precious time running back and forth,” said a candidate from Mohali. The mix-up was compounded by the existence of another School of Eminence in Guru Arjan Dev Nagar, nearly 5 km away. Many candidates rushed there after failing to locate the centre at Mundian Kalan, only to discover it was not the designated venue.

“We first reached Government Senior Secondary School at Mundian Kalan as most people assumed that it was the right place. But then some said the School of Eminence is in Guru Arjan Dev Nagar. We had no option but to travel back and forth,” said another candidate from Mohali.

Panic before crucial exam

The confusion led to widespread panic among candidates and their parents. Some reported arriving late, while others said the stress nearly broke them down before the exam even began.

“I almost had a nervous breakdown. Instead of focusing on the paper,

I was worried about reaching the right centre,”

said another candidate from Jalandhar.

Parents accompanying kids echoed similar concerns. “This is sheer negligence. For a recruitment exam that decides careers, the authorities should have ensured clarity,” said Balwinder Kaur, a parent from Khanna.

What principal says

Principal of the school Puja Trehan confirmed that the Mundian Kalan school had indeed been upgraded to the School of Eminence but the board outside was not changed as the construction work is still under process.

“The construction work is going on and the board will be changed during the process. We had specially stationed a guard outside the gate to guide candidates coming to take the exam and avoid any confusion,” she said.

Calls for accountability

The incident not only delayed reporting time but also caused emotional strain among candidates appearing for a crucial recruitment exam. The SSSB must streamline its process and ensure accurate information in future,” said Harpreet Singh, a parent from Patiala.