Parents worried as school compels students for offline exam

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In its latest circular, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has advised schools to be prepared to welcome the students for face-to-face classes. Several private schools in Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad are preparing to open school in hybrid mode, giving liberty to the students to pick either online or offline mode of learning and exams for students of class 6-8.

Parents of students enrolled in Delhi Public School, Indirapuram are worried as they have received the mandate of compulsory offline exams for junior classes beginning February 24. Parents are worried over the health risk and want hybrid mode to be continued.

Priyanka Rana, president, DPS Indirapuram Parent's Welfare Association has alleged that the school opted for one-way communication. “School has imposed their decision by compelling parents to send their wards to school to take offline exams.” Initially, parents were asked sign a consent form to opt for either offline or online mode of exam.

“More than 200 parents opted for online exam, but the school ignored it and sent circular asking students to appear for the final exam in offline mode. Some of those who opted for offline exam remained clueless while a quarter of parents had no other choice but to send their ward to school to write the exam out of fear of getting failed,” claims Rana, adding that the school has now backtracked that consent form was ever given to parents to opt for the offline or online exam. She also highlights the challenge of travelling to schools due to unavailability of school buses.

“Majority of parents are apprehensive about the use of transport due to an ongoing health crisis. They are concerned over maintenance of hygiene as numerous students will turn up altogether,” says Rana.

When Education Timesreached out to the school authorities, a senior official on the condition of anonymity said that the opposition is from parents “who have a personal agenda and are self-designated leaders.” The school will take all measures to keep students safe and will help those with genuine medical issues by offering them isolated exam hall to minimise exposure.

The school claims that majority of parents are in favour of the offline exam. “Offline exam will help in identifying learning gaps which could be addressed by the school. Online exams do not assess the subjective component accurately and true ability is sensed in traditional pen-paper mode,” she added. Giving the option to pick from offline and online exam will not be a level playing field. “The two platforms test the student’s ability in a different method. The same set of students cannot be judged for their abilities through different mode of examinations.”    

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