In view of the spike in Covid-19 cases in the state, Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA) has brought out fresh guidelines for the ensuing HSLC/AHM exams 2021.
In a letter to the Inspectors of Schools (IS), SEBA secretary Suranjana Senapati wrote that there will be some additional important points to deal with any eventuality from COVID pandemics during the ensuing HSLC/AHM Examination, 2021.
As per the new guidelines,
1.As per the fresh guidelines, the exam centre must maintain distance norms as far as practicable.
2.SEBA had asked the exam centres to adhere to the Covid protocols inside the examination centres.
3.The board has decided to make a separate arrangement for the seating of Covid-19 affected candidates for the upcoming HSLC/AHM examinations.
4.The Board has strictly asked to maintain distance norms as far as practicable and also shared a seating plan which should be “X” pattern.
5.To accommodate the excess candidates, the venue will be created in two ways-
a) Any schools within the range of 1km from the centre school,
b) If not available, temporary tentage can be constructed in such a way that it can resist the changed weather conditions.
6.For the seat arrangements for the COVID-affected candidates, SEBA has directed all the inspectors of schools to arrange their seating preferably in isolation outside the centre campus with prior consultation from the local administration as well as with the health department.
However, as coronavirus cases are rising across the country a large fraction of the students are demanding for the conduction of the examination through online mode. It can be said that the demand for the cancellation of the board examinations is growing louder with every passing day.
The students have stormed social media platforms and more than 1200 students of classes 10 and 12 have signed petition on
on change.org urging the government to either postpone board exams scheduled to be held in May or conduct them in online mode, and the number is still rising every minute.
Education Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the decision of SEBA HSLC and HS examinations will be taken only after the new government is formed, i.e. after May 2, 2021.
Sarma pointed out that not many districts in Assam have been affected by COVID yet, and if HSLC examinations are not conducted, it will be difficult for the administration to decide on giving admissions to colleges. He said that the government will take a decision by keeping the students’ lives in mind.
