SRINAGAR – There would be no relaxation in Syllabus for the ensuing 10th and 12th class examinations being conducted by the State Board of School Education, Press Trust of India, quoting officials reported on Tuesday.
Quoting unmade officials in the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK), PTI reported the governor’s administration was uncompromising on both holding examinations according to schedule and not providing any reduction in the syllabus.
The announcement comes as students in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the Valley, are in a dilemma as authorities have decided to go ahead with annual examinations for various classes according to schedule but almost half of the syllabus is yet to be completed due to the closure of schools post August 5.
The school administrations have also charged fees from the students for these non-working months, parents allege.
Now, the authorities have announced the schedule for the annual examinations without any relaxation in syllabus, they say.
Parents as well as students are wary that if the examinations are conducted on schedule without any reduction in the syllabus, the students may not secure good marks, but if the annual examinations are not conducted, a precious year would be lost.
Students say they are distressed by the prevailing circumstances and they have studied only around half of the prescribed syllabus.
“We have been inside our homes since August 5. There has been no classes and studying in the prevailing atmosphere has been very difficult. How can we prepare for the examinations,” asks Nyla, a student of class 12 at a private school here.
She says private tuition has also been affected in the valley due to the restrictions and shutdown.
Students from government-run schools also have the same tale to tell. While the government announced gradual re-opening of schools across the valley and the teachers attended to their duties, the students stayed away.
“We could not go to our schools. Our parents cannot afford private tuition. We have not covered our entire syllabus, so how can we be prepared for the annual examinations,” says Musaib, a government school student studying in class 10.
The students want examinations to be deferred or at least some reduction in the syllabus so that question papers be set accordingly.
“The government should defer the examinations or should at least reduce the syllabus and then set the question papers according to the reduced syllabus. That will reduce our burden a bit,” says Nyla.
On August 5, the government revoked Article 370 of the Constitution to withdraw the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the state into two Union Territories — Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
Parents are also worried about the safety of their wards.
“They have not completed the syllabus, there have been no classes for the second semester. The atmosphere is not good for private tuition and learning. How will they appear the examinations? How will they fare?
“In today’s world of cut-throat competition, merely passing is not an option, the students have to secure very good marks. All this is adding to the pressure their minds already have,” says Javed Ahmad, father of a class 12 student.
Most of the private schools ask the students to collect assignments, in flash drives, from the schools in the absence of any classes.
Several schools — including government-run — conducted home examinations of the students in the lower classes due to the prevailing situation.
Ahmad claims the government was using the students as a “cannon fodder” to show a semblance of normalcy in Kashmir.
“By conducting the examinations, the government wants to show that everything is hunky-dory in Kashmir, which it is not. They are using the students as a cannon-fodder to enforce normalcy here. How can our kids go to the examination centres in the prevalent circumstances? Who will ensure their safety? The government should first ensure the situation to get normal and then conduct the exams,” he says.
“The students are caught between devil and the deep sea. They do not want to lose the year, but they are also concerned about faring well in the examinations,” Ahmad says.
Cops To Be Members Of Exam Control Rooms
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting to review logistic arrangements for upcoming Board of School Education (BOSE) exams across the Valley.
In the meeting, it was given out that 1.6 lakh students would appear in upcoming BOSE examinations at 1502 centres. Class 10th exams will start from October 29 in which 65000 candidates would appear at 413 centres while Class 12th exams would commences from October 30 in which 48000 students would appear at 633 centres and exams for class 11th would be held from November 10 in which 47000 candidates will appear at 456 centres.
The Divisional Commissioner directed concerned officers to ensure heating, drinking water; electricity, transportation and other basic amenities to the candidates at every examination centre.
It was informed that Section CrPc 144 will be imposed around each examination centre properly.
Deputy Commissioners were directed to establish District Level Exam Control Rooms in each district. District officers of BOSE, School Education, SRTC and Police besides revenue officials shall be members of exam control rooms that will monitor and review necessary examination arrangements on daily basis.
To stop copying and other unfair means, checking squads will be constituted to inspect all centres regularly and take strict action against the violators.
Deputy Commissioners (DCs) will also hold separate meeting with concerned officers to devise and formulate line of action for smooth conduct of examinations.
The Divisional Commissioner exhorted to adopt proactive approach and close coordination for smooth and hassle free conduct of upcoming BOSE examinations across the Valley.
Deputy Commissioners of Srinagar, Pulwama, Ganderbal and Bandipora, Secretary BOSE, Director Education, GM SRTC, Additional Deputy Commissioners of Srinagar and Budgam, Assistant Commissioner (Central) with Div Com (K), Information and Police officers and other concerned officials were present in the meeting where as other Deputy Commissioners participated in the meeting through video conferencing. (With Inputs From Agencies)
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