NSUI Assam urges CM to cancel exams amid rampant spread of COVID-19

GUWAHATI: The National Students' Union of India (NSUI) today wrote to Assam's chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma seeking the postponement or delay of exams "as it is not possible in a pandemic situation."

"It brings me great concern to bring to your notice the recent decision taken by your government to undertake the Board Examination of prospective students in the state of Assam in the midst of the present pandemic," NSUI Assam's president Krishanu Baruah wrote in the communique.

The NSUI has already submitted a request to the Education Minister of the Government of India, Ramesh Pokhriyal who had invited suggestions from states to conduct the 12th standard final exams.

"It is being stated across several news media sources that the state of Assam is in favor of conducting examinations. But it is pertinent to mention that the growing concern over the spread of COVID-I9 in the state makes it a highly irrational and unpragmatic decision to conduct the same under present circumstances," Sharma said.

"Assam has a COVID positivity rate of 8.04% and a death rate of 0.8%, which is an issue of high concern. Our testing levels are still not at par with the urban centers and the 2nd wave has caused extreme death and destruction in the rural and semi-urban areas of the State which would see further deterioration due to the onset of monsoon and yearly floods," he further pointed out.

In this regard, the suggestion to conduct the examination in the month of July-August during the monsoon period would be against the safety and concern of the students of Assam leading to the onset of a third wave of COVID-19 in the state.

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Though examination seems feasible in urban centers, it would be impossible for students in semi-urban/rural areas to enter school premises to undertake such examination physically.

The Don Bosco School of Guwahati can be a lesson in this regard, where classes were conducted in a controlled physical manner, yet it became a super spreader location which was later transformed into a containment zone to control the spread of the deadly virus.

If the virus gains a susceptibility into our young kids whose natural process of immunity is still under development; we can have a catastrophe in hand for which only the Board shall be blamed. Children are the future of the nation and the citizens of tomorrow.

In this regard, it is extremely important that a concrete plan on safeguarding our children should be placed at first by the Government.

Also, if possible, instead of conducting examinations, emphasis should be given to past examination performances. internals or previous scores for those students for whom such an arrangement is unfeasible.

Talking to InsideNE, Baruah said that the government should ensure that concrete steps are taken to ensure the safety of the students who acquiesce to appear for exams.

"However, some parents are against their wards appearing exams. In such cases, the government should develop a system to accord them marks in accordance with the performance in previous exams or internal assessments,' he told us, adding that the organization opposes 'online exams' as "many students do not access to the internet."

"Due to these hurdles, we want the government to consider to postpone the exams until the pandemic situation is over. Students must not be forcefully made to sit for exams," he added.

"It's high time without any further delay Government should cancel 10th/12th board exams and give relaxation to all the students," read a tweet sent out from the official Twitter account of the NSUI in Assam.

According to sources, the SEBA-AHSEC (Class10-12) exams are likely to be conducted in July and a decision in this regard is nearing finalization. The mode of examination is yet to be decided.

This report comes in amid a dip in COVID-19 cases in Assam and Kamrup (M) where testing has been ramped up considerably.

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