PANAJI
Cancellation of the SSC public exam of the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education for class X students may have come as a relief for many but for others, particularly the top-notchers, it's a case of missed opportunity.
No sooner the decision was announced by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday, WhatsApp groups of class X students, went buzzing with activity and students began posting messages of elation over the development.
Meanwhile, Goa Board has informed schools about cancellation of Class X board exams even as it said admissions to Class XI Science and Diploma courses will be based on entrance examination on syllabus of Maths and Science.
According to a senior teacher of a prominent Panaji school, there were quite a few students who expressed disappointment over cancellation of exams.
These WhatsApp groups were the lifeline of communication for the students and faculty through the last academic year where over 90 per-cent of scholastic work was conducted off-campus and through the online mode.
"These are students who excel and were looking forward to their careers first public exam," said the senior teacher.
Former chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar, rued that the SSC exam cancellation, although a good decision, was a "lost opportunity" for the students to test themselves.
A teacher and an educationist himself, Parsekar congratulated all who registered to appear for SSCE in April 2021 for being declared ‘PASS’ on internal marks basis.
Acknowledging that 2020-21 was a really challenging academic year for all -- students, parents and teachers -- Parsekar who runs a school in Mandrem, said for some this ‘mass promotion’ of sorts is a Covid Pandemic enabled “Special Advantage” but in reality, students have lost a great opportunity to test themselves at an important stage in their lives and careers.
Meanwhile, the GBS&HSE is yet to make public the technicalities of the assessment module with internal marks. It is also unclear whether students will get a mark-sheet and matriculation certificates issued by the Board, crucial documents and proof of educational qualifications which come in handy for every individual.
