PRATHAMIK SHALA O MA MAS PRAMOSHAN BABAT

The exams will be based on the online syllabus taught. The government has refused to give mass promotion in primary schools.  Reports for mass promotions came in the media that primary schools in the state have not yet started physically amidst the Corona riots.  However, the state government clarified that it had no plans to give mass promotions to students due to the epidemic.  State Education Minister Chudasama said the examinations would be held before promoting students in the next academic class.  He further said that,  Students of 1st to 8th and 9th as well as 11th standard will be examined and their examinations will be based on the online syllabus taught by the schools.  Speaking to our correspondent Times of India, Chudasama said, “If the entire syllabus could not be taught online due to the Koro epidemic, it will be based on the number of syllabi taught to the students.” 

“All the options for taking the exam are being considered,” he said.  The most suitable option will be considered.  One option is to give the students a question paper at home and have it checked by the teachers.  Another option is to have the student called to a very limited number of batch wise schools and take their exams there.  While the third option is online exam.  Which is the least likely option as students in rural areas have very limited smartphone and commuter facility through which they can take the exam online.  There will be a high-level meeting on how to conduct the exams in which each party will have its say.  On the basis of which the most acceptable option will be adopted.  Bharat Gajipara, president of the Gujarat Self-Financed School Management Association, said the exams must be taken to make what has been taught online meaningful. “If students are given mass promotions, then the credibility of online education will be questioned.  On behalf of the parents of the students, the All Gujarat Board of Parents demanded that mass promotions be given to the students as the schools were physically closed during the core period.

He argued that it was not appropriate to take the exam as online learning was very limited in rural areas.  While the government believes that all options should be considered before making any decision.  School management, on the other hand, has increased pressure on the state government to reopen schools as many parents have refused to pay fees as the schools are not physically open.  School trustees said: ‘All parents will be encouraged to pay fees if schools start.  Corona has caused a lot of damage to schools.

The education minister said all options for the mode of exams are being weighed and the one deemed most suitable will be considered. One option is to give question papers to the students at home which will be evaluated by the teachers. The second option is to convene the students in batches in the schools to make them write the final exam papers.

The third option is to conduct online exams which is least feasible considering the fact that rural students have very limited access to smart phones or computers to appear for online exams.