KOLKATA: City schools have been told by the Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations to break up the batches in small groups of 10-12 for the ISC science practicals due to the Covid situation. A meeting of the city’s ISC convenors and the Council was held on Friday where laboratory practicals came up for discussion in a major way.
While many city schools said that they have decided to complete the laboratory practical examinations for ISC within the third week of April, there were some that pointed out that they will not be able to complete the tests in April because their schools have been taken over for the election process. The Council has reiterated that schools can hold their practical examinations till May 31 and institutes that have been taken over for election duty need not panic.
However, most schools in Kolkata will complete the practicals before the city goes to polls on April 26 and 29.
Schools have also been told that each group should be given a different question paper. Though questions will be framed by the individual schools in consultation with the school heads, a broad framework will be sent by the Council. Laboratory practicals carry 30 marks in each science paper.
But the election dates are not the only concern for determining datesfor practicals — the third block of JEE Mains exams have been scheduled from April 27-30.
The Council has only fixed two dates, April 8 and 9, when schools have to hold their home science and computer science practicals. This year, no other dates have been fixed and schools have been given the freedom to fix their own slots in consultation with the local external examiners. “Immediately after we finish with computer science and home science, we will have our science practicals. We hope to finish much before the elections in the city and the JEE Mains third block,” said Seema Sapru, principal, Heritage School.
This was echoed by Sonali Sen of DPS Ruby Park, who said that all practicals will be over well before the fourth week of April. A meeting was held on Friday with the local examiners at South City International to finalize the dates. “We want to finish early so that students can then concentrate on their written exams,” said principal John Bagul.
Some schools, like St Paul’s Mission School, will conduct the tests very early. According to principal Sanchita Biswas, their practical exams will be held from April 6 to 10.
“Both our schools on AJC Bose Road and Ripon Street have been taken over as polling centres. So we will have to complete early,” said principal of St Augustine Richard Gasper.