Government issues guidelines for conducting examinations amid COVID-19 pandemic

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday issued guidelines that are to be followed while conducting examinations amid Coronavirus Pandemic.

Examination centers are frequented by a large number of students (as well as their parents) and staff till the entire duration of the exam and therefore, it's vital to plan and conduct these examinations, while following specific preventive measures.

The ministry mentioned that the students and staffs should follow the generic measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19. These measures need to be strictly observed by all.

The generic measures will include:

• The physical distancing of at least 6 feet to be followed as far as feasible.
• Use of face covers/masks to be made mandatory.
• Practice frequent hand washing with soap (for at least 40-60 seconds) even when hands are not visibly dirty. Use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers (for at least 20 seconds) can be made wherever feasible.
• Respiratory etiquette to be strictly followed. This involves the strict practice of covering one's mouth and nose while coughing/sneezing with a tissue/handkerchief/flexed elbow and disposing of used tissues properly.
• Self-monitoring of health by all and reporting any illness at the earliest.
• Spitting shall be strictly prohibited.
• Installation & use of Aarogya Setu App shall be advised to all, as far as feasible.

Only those examination centers will be allowed to conduct examinations that are outside the containment zone. Staff/examinees from containment zones shall not be permitted inside the premises. Such examinees shall be given an opportunity to undertake the examination through other means or the Universities/Educational Institution shall arrange for taking the exam at a later date for such students.

The government further instructed the Universities/ Educational Institutions/ Examination Conducting Authorities/ Examination centers to plan out the examination schedule in a staggered manner so as to avoid overcrowding at any examination center on any day.

Keeping in view the physical distancing norms, institutions should have adequate room capacity to ensure proper seating arrangements for examination.

Appropriate arrangements for personal protection gears like face covers/masks, and other logistics like hand sanitizers, soap, sodium hypochlorite solution, etc. shall be made available by Universities/ Educational Institutions/Examination Conducting Authorities/Examination centers to the staff as well as students as per requirements.

Exam functionary and examinees may also submit self-declaration about health status at the time of entrance to the examination center. Such a self-declaration form may be circulated at the time of the issue of admit tickets. A simple do's and dont's/ Advisory may also be circulated at the time of issue of admit tickets.

Students should also be given prior information on what they should carry, which includes exam related documents (Admit card, ID card etc), face mask, water bottle, hand sanitizer, etc.

Adequate manpower shall be deployed by the Institution for maintaining discipline (to ensure observance to distancing norms and other preventive measures at all times) during the conduct of the examination.

An adequate number of registration rooms and manpower for document verification and recording of attendance shall be planned duly ensuring social distancing norms.

Invigilators and supervisory staff need to be briefed on the code of conduct in the context of COVID.
Provisions must be made for the display of Posters/standees /A V media on preventive measures about COVID-19 prominently at the examination center (outside and inside).

The examination center should have a designated isolation room for isolating any person who is found symptomatic at the time of screening or during the examination, till such time medical advice may be sought. A clear policy on allowing symptomatic candidates to undertake examinations shall be delineated by the Examination Conducting Authorities in advance.

Entrances to have mandatory hand hygiene and thermal screening provisions. If any examination functionary/examinee fails to meet the self-declaration criteria, they shall not be allowed entry.

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In the regular course, the asymptomatic candidates should be referred to the nearest health center and given an opportunity to undertake the examination through other means or the Universities/Educational Institution shall arrange for taking the exam at a later date when the student is declared physically fit. However, if a student is found to be symptomatic and insists on giving the examination, he may be allowed to take examination by shifting the candidate to a separate isolation room. The permission in such cases shall be granted as per the policy already enunciated on the issue by the Examination Conducting Authorities.

Specific markings may be made with sufficient distance to manage the queue and ensure social distancing in the premises.

The examinees will be taken to a registration room in batches maintaining adequate physical distancing norms for document verification and recording of attendance. Thereafter they will be escorted in batches to the allotted examination hall.

The Ministry further mentioned regarding the movement within the examination center, seating arrangement including the conduct of examination:

i. The number of people in the elevators shall be restricted, duly maintaining physical distancing norms.
ii. The provision of wheelchairs, if warranted, should be ensured and these should be disinfected regularly.
iii. In the case of PwD candidate availing a scribe, both the candidate and scribe must wear the masks and be made to sit with adequate physical distancing.
iv. Institutions may adopt contactless processes like OR code, online forms, digital signatures for the examination.
v. Adequate arrangements for safe drinking water (preferably with disposable cups/glasses) be made in the examination hall.
vi. Seating arrangement in the examination hall to be made in such a way that adequate social distancing is maintained.
vii. For pen & paper-based tests, the invigilator will sanitize his hands prior to the distribution of question papers/answer sheets. The examinees will also sanitize their hands before receiving such papers and handing them back to invigilators. The collection and packing of the answer sheets, at every stage, will involve sanitization of the hands. The answer sheets will preferably be opened up after 72 hours have elapsed post collection of papers.
viii. The use of spit/saliva for counting/distributing sheets shall not be allowed.
ix. Sharing of personal belongings/stationery shall not be allowed.
x. For online/computer-based examination, the systems shall be disinfected using alcohol wipes before and after the conduct of the examination.
xi. Record of all exam functionaries/examinees shall be maintained in the system for future reference and traceability.

In case a person develops symptoms during the examination, he/she will be taken to a room or area where they are isolated from others. The person will remain isolated while wearing a mask/face cover until such time he/she is examined by a doctor.
If symptoms deteriorate, inform the nearest medical facility (hospital/clinic) or call the state or district helpline.

Universities/ Educational Institutions/ Examination Conducting Authorities/ Examination centers may put additional measures in place as per their local assessment and in line with activities permitted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as per MHA orders issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 from time to time.

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