MARGAO
The fate of the offline examinations for the Std XII students of Rosary Higher Secondary School scheduled on August 23 (Monday) hangs in balance after the Deputy Collector, Margao, on Saturday, issued directions to the higher secondary schools to strictly comply with the South Goa District Magistrate’s order issued under section 144 of the Cr PC in respect of examinations.
In his letter addressed to the principals of Rosary Higher Secondary School, Navelim, Carmel College High Secondary School, Nuvem, and the St Andrew’s Higher Secondary School, Vadem, Deputy Collector, Ramesh N Gaonkar, reminded the managements of the DiM’s Section 144 order wherein school examinations and holding competitive examinations are permitted only with the prior approval of the government.
Taking cognizance of media reports, besides complaints that some of these institutions have fixed offline examinations for the higher secondary students, the Deputy Collector has enclosed a copy of the DM’s order (dated Aug 15) with a direction to strictly comply with it.
Principal of Rosary Higher Secondary School, Navelim, Victoria De Souza, told The Goan on Saturday evening that they had not obtained prior permission from the government to hold the internal exams offline.
She said the institution will apply to the government for permission on Monday given the intervening holiday on Sunday.
When asked to explain the fate of the offline examinations for Std XII students, the principal said she would get in touch with the Parent-Teachers Association and take a call in the matter.
“Since tomorrow is a Sunday, the institution will apply to the government on Mionday for permission to hold the examination offline. In the meantime, the management will discuss with the PTA over the issue”, she said.
When questioned why the higher secondary school did not obtain prior permission from the government as mandated by the DM’s order under section 144 of Cr PC, Victoria said the institution went by the circular issued by the Goa Board on August 2, which does not speak anything on obtaining government’s prior permission to hold the examinations offline.
“There are some higher secondary schools, which have already held the examinations offline. I do not think they had taken the government’s permission since the Goa Board’s circular makes no mention of the permission,” she said.
