Last week, the government issued fresh covid-19 guidelines. Among others it mandates “consent by parents or legal guardians” for students of 10th and 12th class for taking examinations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Offline Board Examinations for 12th and 10th classes have been permitted to be held in staggered manner keeping in view all the social distancing norms and Covid Appropriate Behaviour.
Besides, the government has ordered sanitisation of the examination hall, furniture and toilets on daily basis before and after the exams.
The seating arrangement has been ordered to be made in such a manner that every second desk is left vacant to maintain physical distancing.
The covid-19 pandemic shuttered schools and forced students, who could, to study online at home. There has been a long period of learning loss for the students of Jammu and Kashmir as compared to their counterparts in other parts of India or elsewhere. It has been a major setback in itself, affecting the physical and mental health of most students besides depriving them of vital skill development.
Recognizing pedagogical challenges for teachers and learning problems for students, the government has announced a 30 percent reduction in the syllabus for both 10th and 12 standards for the second year in a row. The announcement has been made recognizing the stresses of the students. In other words, the policymakers agreed that the curriculum remains among the causes of stress for students.
The administration’s decision is in the right direction.
The authorities while reducing the syllabus have retained the core concepts. As per officials, the question papers will be set from the entire syllabus prescribed for the session. However, the students shall have to attempt questions having a weightage of 70 percent marks instead of attempting all the questions
The usual paper pen exam should not be a difficult task to conduct for 10 and 12th classes next month.
The school education department also did well to keep the students engaged through virtual classes or at times, some teachers are holding classes under the open sky for the benefit of the students. However, as experts keep on repeating, it can never be a substitution for formal and structured schooling where students learn through teacher-student interactions. It is important that the students keep focus and prepare as there is still some time before examinations are held. These exams usually define career and as such efforts should be made by them to give their cent percent.
