Maharashtra: Secondary School Certificate exam being held offline after a year

Students of Saraswati Mandir High School being welcomed with a rose each on the first day of the exam as is the ‘custom’. Pics/Atul Kamble

The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination in Maharashtra began on Tuesday after a year's gap. In the light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the centres allotted to the students are their own schools. The exam is also being held in two shifts, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Over 16 lakh students are appearing for it in Maharashtra.

Schools strictly had to follow all Covid-19 safety norms. To ensure social distancing, schools ensured that the seating arrangement was in a zig-zag manner. Masks, sanitisers and temperature checks were mandatory. This year the students got half an hour extra for the paper, which previously used to be for just three hours.

Students of Saraswati Mandir High School, Mahim, write exam

M S Chabuksar, principal of Saraswati Mandir High School in Mahim, said, "We finally welcomed students with a rose for their offline exam." The school is known for welcoming its students with a rose on the first day of their exams. Chabuksar said around 100 students appeared for the paper on Tuesday. The first paper, Marathi, was at 10.30 am. "We were called at 9.30 am so they could check our temperatures," said Rasika Shekhartembe, a student.

Schools provided masks

Covid-19 protocols were also in place for the exam at St Andrews High School in Bandra West. Both schools provided students with masks if they forgot or lost them. "Initially we used to have 30 students in one class but now we only have 20-25 students due to the zig-zag seating arrangement," said Michael Lopes, secondary supervisor at St Andrews High School. Prior to the exam, St Andrews created awareness about vaccination among students and parents. "Around 70 per cent of our students have taken the vaccine," said Lopes.

Besides the government-mandated guidelines, there were some more given to students by the schools. They were asked to get their snacks as the canteens were shut. They were also asked to carry their own and sanitisers, and to not share writing material - pencils, pens, erasers, etc.

April 4
Day the SSC exam will be over