Virus doesn’t matter, Chandigarh okay with Class IX, XI offline exams

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 18

At a time when the CBSE has postponed/cancelled the board examinations as the second Covid wave has gripped the country, the UT Education Department is hell bent on calling students of Classes IX and XI to appear for the examinations.

What is more disturbing is that students are being called to give PISA preparatory tests, an international survey scheduled for 2022.

“With reference to the CBSE, all recognised schools of UT are directed to conduct the assessment test as prepared by the Pratham Society; government schools will conduct the test for Class IX of the 2020-2021 session on April 19. Private and government-aided schools can conduct it at their own convenience within a week (offline mode). The assessment test can be printed through the PISA fund allocated to schools,” official instructions sent by the department state.

Nitin Goyal, president of the Chandigarh Parents Association, said, “On the one hand, the Administration is resorting to imposing a curfew to check the spread of Covid-19, while on the other, the Education Department is forcing students of government schools to physically appear for the exams. This shows the insensitivity of the department towards the lives of students. The CBSE and ICSE have already cancelled the board exams. Even OPDs of all government hospitals have been closed. It’s insane to continue with offline exams in this situation.”

A city-based parent said on condition of anonymity, “There is an exponential rise in Covid infections in Chandigarh with 625 reported cases today. The CBSE Class X exams have cancelled while the Class XII exams have been postponed across the country, but the UT Education Department is still continuing to hold offline exams for Classes IX and XI in all govt schools of Chandigarh. What is the use of a weekend lockdown if the UT is insisting on bringing out thousands of government school students to take offline exams?”