Ranchi: The Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) has postponed the Class X and Class XII practical examinations in view of the worsening Covid situation in the state. In a notification issued on Thursday, JAC said that further information in this regard would be shared soon. Notably, the practical examinations were underway since April 6. The decision of the state board came a day after the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) postponed Class XII board examinations.
Different sections of the civil society as well as political leaders, however, have urged the state government to altogether defer JAC Class X and Class XII main examinations, which are scheduled to start from May 4. Around seven lakh students are expected to appear in the board examinations across 2,150 centres in the state.
Talking on the issue, JAC chairman Arvind Singh said: “The situation has worsened and it would be risky to conduct the examinations next month. However, we are awaiting directions from the government.”
Congress MLA from Mahagama Deepika Pandey has requested chief minister Hemant Soren to defer the written examinations. In a letter, she requested the CM to take a decision immediately in the interest of the students.
Jharkhand Parents Association (JPA) on Thursday also wrote a letter to the JAC demanding cancellation of the examinations to save the students and their parents from undue stress. JPA president Ajay Rai said that parents are concerned over the safety of their children due to the rising number of Covid cases.
Rai said, “The fear is all the more palpable because not only scores of people are getting infected but they are also unable to get proper medical care.”
Welcoming the CBSE’s decision, Private Schools and Children Welfare Association president Alok Kumar Dubey said the JAC should also promote the students of Class X and Class XII without making them take the examinations. He reasoned that students are apprehensive over taking the examinations amid deteriorating Covid situation.
All Jharkhand Primary Teacher’s Association president Brijendra Choubey reiterated a similar demand. “Despite the precautionary measures, the students and the examiners would be under high risk.” Notably, primary teachers are also deputed for examination duties.
The principal of Balkrishna High School, Divya Singh, said, “The written examinations must be postponed as the situation has worsened. Apart from the students, school staff are also quite afraid of participating in the examination process.”