Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 29

In view of the sudden surge in Covid-19 cases, the UT Education Department has decided that no offline examinations for schools would be conducted without the approval of the District Education Officer (DEO).

The department also decided that all educational institutes, public libraries and coaching institutes would remain closed till May 15. However, online coaching can continue.

Vacation from May 1?

The month-long summer vacation may be announced from May 1, said sources. However, there is no official confirmation on the decision.

“All the government and government aided privately managed educational institutions will function with 50 per cent of their teaching and non-teaching staff till May 15. The head of the institution will attend the office on regular basis,” read an Education Department circular.

“Heads of respective institutes will maintain proper record of all the hostellers (name, class, residential address and others). Details of the students who are allowed to stay beyond April 30, shall be submitted to the Director Higher Education till May 4,” it added.

Grace marks

The department has also decided to grant a maximum 30 grace marks to the Class IX and XI students.

“The UT administration has taken numerous steps for the welfare of students studying in all government schools of Chandigarh. Centralised online teaching classes have been conducted… moreover the department has taken the decision to grant maximum 30 grace marks to the Class IX and XI students,” said an official spokesperson.

“The result of 93 government schools (senior secondary and high school) was declared today. The pass percentage of Class IX is 89.65 per cent and that of Class XI is 97.64 per cent. Students placed under compartment will be given special chance after the summer vacation,” said the spokesperson.

Summer holidays

Sources, meanwhile, claimed that the department might take prepone summer holidays in schools considering the ongoing pandemic.

The month-long summer vacation is likely to be announced from May 1, said the source. However, there is no official confirmation on the decision.