Exam centres almost double this year: JKBOSE
Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Nov 11: With 40 per cent relaxation given in the syllabus, the class 10 annual examination today commenced in Kashmir valley amid strict adherence to COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
The examination, conducted by the J&K State Board of School Education (JKBOSE), commenced at 11:30 am on the day and ended at 2:30 pm.
The candidates appeared in the Mathematics paper across more than 800 centres that were set up by the board in Kashmir valley.
The JKBOSE officials told Excelsior that around 74,858 candidates appeared in examination across 814 examination centres that were set up. And in entire J&K, more than 1 lakh candidates appeared in the examination across 1145 centres.
“The centres were double to what we had last year, keeping in view the adherence to the SOPs amid COVID-19, we had to increase the number of centres,” Aijaz Hakak, Joint Secretary, Examinations of JKBOSE told Excelsior.
The students were seen assembling outside the examination centres after 10 in the morning with parents accompanying them.
While the students said that they were confident, the parents said that they were anxious given the circumstances in which their wards had to carry on with their studies.
The use of mask, sanitizers and maintaining social distance was made mandatory for the day and these SOPs will be followed on all the days of the examination ahead.
”Proper fumigation of all exam halls was done and sanitizers were made available for students,” officials said.
Notably, the class 10 students who were set to appear in the examination today were earlier tested for COVID-19 and were only allowed to sit in the exam after they tested negative. Those who tested positive were asked not to approach the exam centre on the day.
The students were allowed to enter the examination centre after their temperatures were recorded and those who had come without masks were provided with the same at their respective examination centres.
Earlier, keeping in view the pandemic situation, the JKBOSE had given a relaxation of 40 per cent in the syllabus for the class 10 students and were asked to attempt only 60 per cent of marks, which the Board had said, shall be equivalent to 100 per cent at the time of evaluation.
The students on the other side said that though they were anxious and nervous, they were confident of doing well in the examinations.
“No matter, the situation has been tough, but we have been given relaxation in the syllabus and I am hopeful of doing well,” Aisha, a student said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
