‘Are we guinea pigs’: Std XII students worry about evaluation, admission

Things are expected to be difficult for students whose admission is solely dependent on HSC scores. Representation pic

While the Std XII exam has been cancelled across boards considering the Covid-19 pandemic, students of the state board continue to wait for news on how they will be evaluated and how admissions to degree courses will take place. After a year spent studying online in the middle of a pandemic, clueless students have questioned if they are guinea pigs subjected to a trial and error method of education.

Saloni Kambli and Johnson Jacob

This would be the first time that degree admissions will take place without a Std XII exam. While the CBSE had declared that their Std XII result will be based on internal assessments, ICSE board is likely to follow the same route. But the state government has not given a clear answer for the evaluation of HSC students.

Also Read: Fair evaluation criteria bigger challenge for CBSE: Education experts

"It is a weird experience as the relief of no exam is incomplete without having clarity on assessment. I am personally relieved that I can focus all my energy on NEET now as in the case of board results, I require only 50 per cent minimum marks. But there are so many students whose HSC score decides their future journey," said Nupur Ghanshamnani, a student from Thane. She said that for students like her, too, the board exam chapter cannot be closed until there is clarity on assessments.

Colleges conduct tests

Most colleges are mum on admission process, students said, amid lack of direction from the govt. Representation pic

"Some colleges have started giving students assignments and project work so that internal assessment marks can be given. In the absence of Std XII marks though, universities or colleges are most likely to hold their own entrance tests," said Saloni Kambli, questioning for how long they would have to be in limbo. This was, in fact, the most-asked question by students across boards. The students began their Std XII year amid much uncertainty and panic due to Covid-19 and studied online for the entire year. The students were then expected to appear for exams offline, which was opposed by many. Even as the Std X exams were cancelled, Std XII students kept waiting for over a month. "How are we expected to decide on our higher education journey without knowing the way toward it?" questioned Kambli.

"Our batch, I believe, is the one with a peculiar fate," said Johnson Jacob, an HSC student. He explained, "Since Std VIII, we have been seeing constant syllabus changes. When we were in SSC, they dropped the 20 marks given for internal assessment for each subject.

Sudha Shenoy and Johnson Jacob

"This made scores drop severely. When we entered Std XII, the entire education sector went online. And now in a rarest of rare case, the Std XII board exam is cancelled. Are we guinea pigs?" He continued, "Now we have no clue on how our admissions are going to be finalised. Colleges are mum about it and rightfully so, as they, too, have no clarity."

Enormity of losses sad

"It is sad that the pandemic has led to so much loss for this batch, especially for those whose admissions depend purely on HSC scores. Some colleges have started holding online tests to submit internal assessment marks since there is no clarity if NEET/JEE will be held in August as scheduled," said Sudha Shenoy, a parent, adding that the batch is experiencing a complete trial and error method.

Nupur and Dr Lata Ghanshamnani

According to Dr. Lata Ghanshamnani, it is high time for the government to have foresight for upcoming batches. Mother of two, Dr. Ghanshamnani, said, "These batches, be it HSC or SSC, have suffered immensely. When we say they have become guinea pigs, have the authorities really learnt anything from this experiment, so that upcoming batches are spared? It is already the beginning of the new academic year and there is no assurance that the pandemic is going to be completely under control now. In this case, shouldn't authorities across boards start taking proactive steps, starting by reducing the syllabus to holding exams earlier this time, say around January?"

June 2
Day the state govt recommended cancelling HSC exams to the disaster management committee