Assam Cabinet says exams ‘not permissible’ under routine modalities

From Our Correspondent

 GUWAHATI:

The Assam Cabinet on Wednesday recommended that, in the prevailing COVID situation, it would not be permissible to conduct the Assam board and higher secondary examinations “under routine modalities for holding the exams”.

“A final decision would however be taken in this regard on June 18 by the state education department during a meeting with various stakeholders,” state health minister Keshab Mahanta informed reporters after the Cabinet meeting here.

The state health department, Mahanta said had made a presentation before the Cabinet based on facts collected from the education department that a gathering of 7 lakh candidates, who are to appear in the state board and HS exams, along with as many guardians, besides teachers and invigilators, would be too huge, unsafe and risky given the prevailing COVID situation.

“From the facts, we have ascertained, about 25,000 in the 0-18 years age group have been infected during the second wave of COVID in the state during May and June this year,” the minister said.

“The positivity rate in this group is as high as 14.8 per cent, while in the 11-18 age category, it is 10 per cent,” he added.

“Based on these facts, the exams cannot be held under the existing set of arrangements or routine modalities as the number of people gathering (as proposed by the education department) will be too huge (almost 20lakh) to ensure safety,” Mahanta said.

As it is, inter-district transport services and movement of people to and from other districts remain suspended while five districts, reporting high COVID cases, are currently under scanner and likely to face stringer curbs if the situation there does not improve by July 21.

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