Open house: Not safe to hold exams, but exercising caution crucial

Lives matter more than exams

Because of the surge in Covid cases, it’s very risky to put the lives of children and students in danger. Though wearing masks, using sanitisers and maintaining social distance should be made mandatory, there would be chaos and bedlam all around. Otherwise also, youngsters and the elderly are more vulnerable and susceptible to Covid infection. Students are already under mental stress and some have committed suicide. Precious lives of children and young adults are more important than exams. Exams can be postponed or even cancelled. Students can be promoted on the basis of internal assessment and previous tests. Similarly, the entrance tests of schools and colleges can be postponed or even cancelled to be put to the next session.

Dr JS Wadhwa, Kapurthala

Don’t postpone exams

The exams should not be postponed as students are already burnt out. They are studying for more than two months now at a stretch. There is no point in postponing the exams, as it will lead to further problems for students. Covid is here to stay, so exams should be conducted by taking all precautions such as wearing masks, using sanitisers and observing social distancing. It’s good that the number of centres is being sought to be doubled to maintain social distancing. Parents are overwhelmed by the growing number of Covid patients and the death toll. This is the reason they don’t want their children to take the exam. The government should project only current active cases and deaths, and not the total cases in media.

Saahil Hans

Students already late to take exams

The examination authority should conduct exams because students are already too late to take the exams due to Covid. One can’t ignore exams, as it is vital from all perspectives. Most of the parents and students are expecting that the universities should pass students of final semester without taking any exam. If the exams are not conducted then how will we come to know whether a student is capable or not? College and universities should be responsible for ensuring physical distancing norms. Students should carry their own sanitiser bottles and cover their face with mask. The government has requested the universities to ensure proper cleanliness at all exam centres with all hygiene protocols during exams.

Shailja Thakur

Allow exams to be conducted online

There was a swift shoot in the number of Covid-19 positive cases on June 21 alone enumerating 217 in Punjab and 3,000 fresh cases in New Delhi. Speculations of the World Health Organisation (WHO), hint at the months of October-November, 2020, to see the highest surge in the number of cases and mass deaths. When such a rise of positive cases is speculated, schools and colleges must not conduct physical entrance exams and pending examinations for intermediate students. This should be done to ensure safety of the younger generation as students act recklessly negligent, when not under able guidance of parents in such institutions. However, it is recommended to conduct online exams, keeping in view the norms laid down by the state on social distancing. Online exams help students to take tests via online platforms such as “Mettl”, from the comfort of their homes. Such platforms are created and especially tailored to facilitate the same with an option of typing and alternatively by first writing and then scanning to upload the same. There is also a facility of proctoring to ensure minimal chances of cheating or other malpractices during the course of exam. Hence, it provides the security of not contracting the disease and at the same time helps to maintain the academic rigour across schools and colleges. However, one concern is that funds are running dry in many schools and colleges, especially government institutions. Hence, the cost of such heavy infrastructure may not be affordable to many. The state government must initiate a Bill in the Parliament to request the allocation of funds in the education sector, under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, as there is no specific ministry for catering to the education sector.

Pahul Sond