SSCE and HSSCE students protest at Margao municipal garden demanding the postponement of Board exams. Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
A group of Goa Board SSC and HSSC students descended on the footpath of the Margao municipal garden on Friday to request the government headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to either postpone or cancel the Board examinations till the Covid situation improves.
Saying that Covid-19 is spreading through the State of Goa like a raging fire, the students pointed out that it is indeed a major health risk as students from different parts of the State will be answering in areas listed as red zones. “This will increase the chances of mass transmission of the virus in a short duration of time”, they said.
“The Board claims to be fully prepared to follow SOPs while forgetting that there is no given criteria that covers an infected student. Will the student be allowed to answer separately if he has symptoms or if his family member has tested positive? Will the centre be shut if a staff member or student test positive”, the students questioned, further demanding to know whether the government will take the responsibility of the student and his health”.
Saying that majority of Goa’s population has still not been vaccinated, let alone getting the second dose, the students questioned “what if the student carries the virus home infecting his family and senior citizens”.
Drawing attention of the government that a large number of students depend on the public transport to travel to the examination centre and back, the students sought an answer as to who is there to assure them that this is safe.
“To carry on with the exams as per the earlier schedule amidst the rising pandemic is highly concerning as it is putting at risk the health and life of around 16,000 students, their families, teachers and support staff”, they said.
The Students added: “Is it fair that only a certain number of students answer the Board exams and put their lives at risk when many State Boards and even CBSE have either cancelled or postponed the Board examination?
They also reminded that the current 2020-21 batch hasn’t had regular classes and had to contend with poor internet connectivity and lack of smart phones and computers/laptops.
