Booklet crisis in LGS in Bursa: Incorrect distribution leaves students in tears

A booklet mix-up during the first session of the LGS at Şahinler Anatolian High School in the Nilüfer district of Bursa created immense stress for the students taking the exam. Approximately 15 minutes after the exam began, proctors in Hall No. 01 realized that the booklets had been distributed incorrectly. Consequently, while the exam was still in progress, the booklets were collected and redistributed to the students.

Following the incident, some students could not hold back their tears due to the stress they experienced. Parents of the students, who explained the situation to their families after the exam, went to the prosecutor's office to file a criminal complaint and demanded that the exam be retaken.

This disruption during the exam negatively affected the students' performance and psychological state. Parents stated that they did not want the effort their children had put in throughout the year to be wasted in this manner.

“THE CHILDREN'S PSYCHOLOGY HAS BEEN DAMAGED, WE WANT A RETAKE”

Salih Bilge, one of the victims of the incident, described what happened with the following words:

"In the 2025 LGS, the proctor in Hall No. 01 at Şahinler Anatolian High School distributed the booklets incorrectly. Later, these booklets were changed. A commotion broke out in the classroom. Students were affected by this chaos and started crying during the exam. Later, additional time was given as compensation, but unfortunately, this was not provided afterward. Because of this, we are victims. It was a mistake made by the officials; the booklets were distributed incorrectly, taken from students, and given to others. These are 13-14-year-old children; they cannot manage this crisis. Because they couldn't manage this crisis, the children started crying. They damaged the children's psychology because exam security could not be maintained. We want this psychological damage to be repaired and for an equivalent exam to be held. My child has been crying for 2 days, and I am trying to console him. He asks, ‘Dad, who will compensate for my one year of hard work?’ I am asking the authorities here as well. Who will compensate for this effort?"

Parents stated that after the chaos during the exam, their children had difficulty focusing and that exam security could not be maintained. With the booklets being changed in the middle of the exam, some students had their booklets changed more than once. This situation negatively impacted the children's exam performance.

Another parent, Sevcan Egemen, said, "He came out 10 minutes late with his morale low. We wondered why he didn't come out. Afterward, he came to us and didn't want to talk; he just cried. We tried to comfort him, but he didn't explain. Then he went into the second session. He explained that such a situation happened after the exam. Minutes were taken after the exam. According to what my nephew told me, they entered the first exam, and there were two proctors and one hall supervisor. After 15 minutes passed, talking started. One of the proctors went downstairs to report that he had distributed the exam booklets incorrectly. While he was downstairs, the hall supervisor took the question booklets back from the children and asked them to erase their markings if they had made any. Afterward, he took the booklets. He redistributed them correctly, but different booklets ended up with different children. My nephew's booklet had someone else's name on it. He erased it and wrote his own name. In fact, the person in front of my nephew had his exam booklet changed three times. Of course, this reflected very negatively on these children. Afterward, many other hall officials came to the classroom from downstairs. Talking and crying started in the classroom. Naturally, this then reflected on the children. Some even said, ‘Are we doing it wrong?’ They continued the exam with anxiety, wondering if it was someone else's booklet. My nephew was also very negatively affected by this situation and could not concentrate due to the crying. This is already on camera. We have made our complaints to the necessary places. The legal process has begun. Because children take this exam only once. Unlike the university exam, there is no retake. They worked very hard, and we do not want this effort to be wasted in this way. My nephew had prepared a lot and worked hard. Believe me, he worked day and night. Those who were crying there were still crying after the exam ended. It is very important for their future. Right now, his morale is a bit better because we are seeking his rights and because he trusts us, believing that there will be a result, that his rights will not be violated, that he will be evaluated under the same conditions as others, or that this error will be corrected," she stated.

Following the incident, parents initiated the legal process by applying to CİMER, the Nilüfer District Directorate of National Education, and the prosecutor's office. A new exam is being demanded for the victimized students.

News Source: 12punto