'Wrong booklet scandal' occurs in LGS: Collected in the middle of the exam

The exam held as part of the High School Transition System (LGS), in which over 1 million students participated across Turkey over the weekend, has concluded.

According to allegations, students taking the exam in Hall No. 01 at Şahinler Anatolian High School in the Nilüfer district of Bursa were distributed the wrong booklets during the first session. 15 minutes after the start of the 75-minute first session, the booklets were swapped in the middle of the exam after officials noticed the situation.

While some students had their booklets changed multiple times, the change made in the middle of the exam caused great confusion and stress among the students. After the exam, when students explained the situation to their families, parents went to the prosecutor's office and filed a criminal complaint. The parents demanded that the exam be repeated due to the events that occurred during an exam that will affect the students' lives. In the classroom where the wrong booklets were distributed, some students burst into tears after the stress they experienced.

"WHO WILL COMPENSATE FOR MY EFFORT"

Salih Bilge, who did not know how to answer his child's question, said, "In the 2025 LGS, the proctor distributed the booklets incorrectly in Hall No. 01 at Şahinler Anatolian High School. Later, these booklets were changed. A commotion broke out in the classroom. Students were affected by this commotion 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. An error made by the officials, the incorrect distribution of the booklets, the booklets being taken from students and given to another student—13-14-year-old children cannot manage this crisis.

Because they could not manage this crisis, the children started crying. They ruined their psychology because the exam security of the children could not be ensured. We want this psychology to be corrected and an equivalent exam to be held.

My child has been crying for 2 days, I am trying to console them. They ask, 'Dad, who will compensate for my one year of effort?' I am asking the authorities here as well. Who will compensate for this effort?"

PARENTS HAVE INITIATED THE LEGAL PROCESS

Noting that they filed criminal complaints with the necessary authorities after the exam, Bilge said, "The exam starts, and 15 minutes later the error is understood. To correct this error, they swap the existing booklets with other students. The students' focus is lost. At that moment, others enter the classroom. Students even say that the police even came into the classroom at that time. The children came out of the first session crying. They entered the second session crying. We filed a criminal complaint with CİMER, the Nilüfer District Directorate of National Education, and subsequently the prosecutor's office. Our demand is for a new exam to be held for the victimized students."

SOME STUDENTS' BOOKLETS WERE CHANGED MULTIPLE TIMES

A parent named Sevcan Egemen, who stated that some students' booklets were changed multiple times during the exam, said, "They came out 10 minutes late with low morale. We were even worried about why they didn't come out. Later, they came to us and didn't want to explain, they just cried. We tried to comfort them, but they didn't explain. Then they entered the second session. They explained that such a situation occurred after the exam.

Minutes were taken after the exam. According to what my niece/nephew explained, they entered the first exam, and there were two proctors and one hall supervisor. After 15 minutes passed, conversations started. One of the proctors went downstairs to report that they had distributed the exam booklets incorrectly. While they were downstairs, the hall supervisor took the question booklets back from the children and asked them to erase them if they had made any markings. Then they took the booklets.

They distributed them correctly again, but different booklets had come to different children. My niece/nephew's booklet had someone else's name written on it. They erased it and wrote their own name. In fact, someone in front of my niece/nephew had their exam booklet changed three times. Of course, this reflected very negatively on these children. Afterward, many other hall officials came into the classroom from downstairs. Conversations and crying started in the classroom. Naturally, this then reflected on these children.

Some even said, 'I wonder if we are doing it wrong.' They continued the exam with anxiety about whether it was someone else's booklet. My niece/nephew was also very negatively affected by this situation and could not concentrate due to the crying. This is already on the cameras. We have made our complaints to the necessary places. The legal process has begun. Because children only take this exam once. Unlike the university exam, there is no repeat of this.

They put in a lot of effort and we do not want this effort to be wasted in this way. My niece/nephew had prepared a lot, had put in the effort. Believe me, they worked day and night. Those who were crying there were still crying after the exam was over. It is very important for their future. Right now, their morale is a little better because we are seeking their rights and because they trust us, and believe that there will be a compensation, that their rights will not be violated, and that they will be evaluated under the same conditions as the others or that this error will be corrected," they stated.