Assam: Board, HS exams by mid-July if COVID rate dips below 2 per cent: Himanta

From Our Correspondent

GUWAHATI:

The Assam board and higher secondary exams would be scheduled between July 15 and 20, 2021, and not later, “provided if the COVID-19 positivity rate comes down below 2 per cent by July 1, 2021,” informed Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Addressing media persons on the completion of a month in office as Chief Minister, Sarma categorically said the exams would have to be cancelled if the COVID positivity rate remained over 2 per cent on July 1, 2021.

“We cannot put the health of children (for whom there is no vaccine as of now) at risk,” he said, adding, if at all the exams have to be cancelled, the candidates would be promoted on the basis of school evaluation.

“If the positivity rate slides below 2 per cent by July 1, the exams will be held on one or two days, by adhering to all COVID norms with male and female candidates sitting for the exams in separate rooms so that physical distance is maintained. The question papers will be of objective type,” the chief minister said.

He appealed to the students to stay focused on their studies keeping in mind the mid-July date for their examinations.

Earlier this week, state Education Minister Ranoj Pegu, after meeting officials of SEBA, AHSEC and representatives of Assam Sahitya Sabha, Bodo Sahitya Sabha, students unions and intellectuals, hinted that the exams might be held during the first half of August.

“Given the prevailing pandemic situation, the meeting arrived at a consensus that the exams would be held in a “condensed” manner, adhering to all COVID-19 protocols, and that that the subjects/marks would be curtailed as well,” Pegu had said.

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