Srinagar: Amid the increase in Coronavirus cases, Central Board of School Education (CBSE) reduced the syllabus of students to ease the burden of children while as Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) is yet to take a decision regarding the conduction of examination.
Due to the pandemic, students in Kashmir have not been able to go to schools for more than 10 days in past 8 months.
“We have not gone to school even once this year. We joined 12th Class in January but since then some students could not attend the classes even once,” said Dawar Bhat, a 12th class medical student.
Meanwhile, Farooq Ahmed Peer, Director Academics JKBOSE said that the authorities have been conducting meeting related to the examination of the students.
“We haven’t reached to a decision yet but we might come up with the decision within this week. We are conducting meetings regarding the same with the academic committee. This committee decides what to do in such situations. We are talking to the members of this committee right now. As soon as they give the comments, a proposal will be created and sent to the government and eventually a decision will be taken,” said Mr. Peer.
“CBSE informed the students 2 months ago that their syllabus is reduced by 30% although their exams are conducted in March. Our exams our coming but there is no sign of a decision. They are playing with our careers and it is taking a toll on our mental health,” said Soliha Khan, a 12th class medical student.
In Kashmir, past few years including 2008, 2010, 2016 and 2019 saw unrests which affected the examination schedule of students. Either the syllabus was reduced or mass promotion was given to students studying in different classes. Even mass promotion was given to students of few classes in other cases.
However, due to the worsening situation caused by pandemic, students still await a decision regarding their examinations.
Since the pandemic started, schools decided to conduct online exams. Although, it remained successful at other places but due to 4g clampdown, the students could not attend online classes properly.
“We do not have 4g connectivity. School authorities claim that our syllabus has been finished. They completed the syllabus on 2g internet. We cannot study without having visuals and we cannot even understand the concepts orally. Teachers take online classes which most of the students fail to attend because of slow internet and then they send pictures in groups, if we had to study through notes and pictures only then we even had books,” said Ahsan Tariq, a 12th class student.
“Firstly, 4g should be restored in any case. And then, exam should be conducted in March with 30% syllabus reduction and we should even be informed what portion from our syllabus has been reduced. We don’t want mass promotion, as the government said the previous year” added Mr. Tariq.
