Mangalore: The Secondary final, tenth standard, annual exams.. have commenced on Monday on the coastal region from April 2, after PUC tests were over.

5141 students of 17 years of age in 45 centres in city and rural areas, appeared for the SSLC tests, of whom 313 are from Government schools, according to the Board Education officer here.

3756 students are from aided schools and 1,072 from un-aided private schools, we are told.

In DK district, about 33,885 students have appeared for these high school final exams., after which many drop out to pursue jobs, or technical lines.

There are 2432 students registered privately, not following regular classes.

In view of increase in Malpractices, vigilance levels have gone up with severe punishments to the copying and such other trends of cheating, instead of relying on regular practice and memory power.

The district recorded a lowly 21st place out of 30 in 2011, but efforts were made not to sink to the bottom.