Students in a Ranchi school stir against school’s decision to hold offline exams

 Hello Students

The students of DAV Kapil Deo School here staged a protest, along with their parents, in front of the campus on Monday against the school’s decision to hold offline examinations next month “on such short notice”. Last week, after the state government allowed schools to reopen from Class VIII onwards, DAV announced to hold in-person exams for students of Class VIII onwards from March 1.

The pupils have demanded that either the school organize online exams or give them at least a month’s time to prepare for the offline ones.

A student of Class XI preferring anonymity said, “The school informed us about conducting offline examination only last week, leaving us with very little time to prepare. I am a resident of Jehanabad in Bihar and it’ll be tough for me come to Ranchi to take the test.” He claimed that other schools that decided to go for offline exams had intimated the students about their decision around a month ago, giving them ample time to prepare.

A parent, who was unwilling to be named, said, “After conducting online classes for the past one year, the school has now wants to go for offline exams amid a pandemic. The students must be given at least a month’s time, especially when CBSE itself has given adequate time to Class X and Class XII examinees for their board exams.”

Meanwhile, National Student Union of India member Indarjit Singh allegedly spoke to principal M K Sinha regarding the matter and the latter has reportedly assured him that a meeting would be held on the issue later.

Sinha could not be contacted for his comments.

Talking on the issue, the principal of DAV Hehal, M K Sinha, said Class VIII and Class XI exams are held at an all-India level and it is difficult for a school to change the dates.

Several other CBSE schools, including Delhi Public School and Jawahar Vidya Mandir, Shyamli, have decided to conduct exams online.