Student organisations for ‘open book’ exam mode
Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, May 27
Student organisations are keen on ‘open book’ and at-home exams for Class XII (CBSE) students. After the ABVP and NSUI, the Students Islamic Organisation of India too has written to Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, pressing for the “open book” mode.
Opposing physical exams, the SIO had earlier sought that the board exams be cancelled and students be promoted on the basis of internal assessment and Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE).
In another letter to Pokhriyal, SIO president Mohammad Salman Ahmad said: “Considering that cancellation of the board exams is not acceptable to most state governments, question papers and answer-sheets can be made available to students at their homes. The answer-sheets can then be sent back to the exam centres. Physical examination should not be allowed under any circumstances.”
A majority of states favour short-duration, multiple-choice exams. However, Delhi, West Bengal and Punjab are opposed to the idea, arguing that the safety of students and teachers is a must and they must be vaccinated first. However, vaccinating all students may not be possible because of the scarcity of vaccines and the fact that a large number of students are below 18 years of age, say sources.