Principals worried about health of students, teachers

Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 24

Confusion over conducting Class XII board examinations has teachers from across the country worried and confused. While state governments, in association with the CBSE, are yet to take a decision on how to conduct board examinations, principals of schools in the city remain worried about the health of students and teachers.

Many principals believe that if offline exams are to be taken, then exams of all subjects should be held and not only the main subjects.

“It doesn’t matter whether you come to school for three days or five days. Students can get infected even if they come to appear physically for the main subjects only. The final decision has to be taken by the CBSE but I personally feel that offline exams should be conducted of all subjects for the betterment of students,” said a teacher of a school in BRS Nagar said.

Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sarabha Nagar, Principal Sister Reshmi, however, has a different opinion. She said exams should be conducted offline.

“We have waited for over three months for the second wave of Covid to get over. In my opinion, we should for another month for cases to fall further. The CBSE can conduct exams then with less preparation holidays between exams. But if a hasty decision is taken at the moment and exams are conducted within the next few days, who will be held responsible for the health of teachers and students if they catch the infection?” Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sarabha Nagar, Principal Sister Reshmi

Voicing similar views, Principal of Nankana Public School, Harmit Kaur, said she was in favour of conducting exams in the offline mode. Offline exams can be conducted once the Covid curve flattens, she said.

“Students should not be promoted without exams. Future of Class XII students depend on the marks they score in their board exams. Students should be promoted on merit and not on assessment basis,” Principal of Nankana Public School, Harmit Kaur

Students, however, are divided on this issue. Many students are in the favour of appearing for exams physically while others are of the opinion that since classes were held online and concepts could not be cleared, exams should be held online as well or not at all.