MARGAO
Demanding the intervention of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to the row over offline examinations for Std XII students by some higher secondary schools from Monday, the Goa Forward Party has warned the government and the higher secondary schools not to play with the health and lives of the students.
Addressing the media with the affected students, Goa Forward vice-president Durgadas Kamat wondered how some higher secondary schools can hold the mid Board exams offline when the government has plans to open colleges only from September 1.
“We would like to draw the attention of the government that some of the higher secondary schools have fixed the mid board exams offline from August 23. All these students are below 18 years of age and who have not been vaccinated,” Durgadas said.
Demanding to know who has taken the decision to hold the exams offline from August 23, he claimed that Director, Goa Board, Bushan Savaikar was categorical in saying that the higher secondary schools need to seek permission from the Board before taking the decision to hold offline exams.
“We appeal to the Chief Minister, who also holds the Education portfolio, to pay heed to the sentiments of the students and not play with their mental health. The students have not been able to focus on their studies. There’s panic amongst the student community given that Covid cases had increased when some schools had held the XI exams offline,” he said.
Durgadas said if the government and the higher secondary school managements do not hold the exams online, the Goa Forward will stand by the students demanding offline exams.
A student demanded to know how come the school managements are going against the statements made by the Chief Minister when he has announced opening of only the colleges from September 1. “We spoke to our school teachers, but no solution is forthcoming till date,” the student said, while demanding government’s intervention since the exams are scheduled on Monday.
