Maharashtra: Students, parents intensify protests against offline board exams

Protests are being held across the state against the government’s decision to conduct in-person board exams

With about a month left for the HSC and SSC exams to start and COVID-19 cases across the state reaching new all-time highs on a daily basis, students and parents have intensified their protests against the state education department's decision to hold in-person exams. Students are now staging protests in various cities like Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur, as they feel that the government's decision was putting them in greater danger.

"We are not against the exams, but we cannot risk our lives for it. Lakhs of students appear for the exams. Only in Mumbai division, the number will be over 2 lakh for each exam. Social distancing might happen inside the exam centre, but what about the situation outside. Not only do we have to travel to the exam centre, there is bound to be crowding outside," shared a student.

Adding to this, another student said, "Even college exams are being held online. Then why are board exams being held in person? Throughout the academic year, studies were conducted online, then why can't the exams be held in the same way?"

"The government always talks about rural areas whenever we demand online board exams. But it is important to note that the infection is spreading faster in urban areas than in the rural ones. The government can create an offline-online format to suit different conditions. So many students, parents and even teachers are against the offline exams," said Anubha Shrivastava from India Wide Parents Association.

"The nature of the exams does not allow us to conduct them online. These are important aspects of students' lives and if the examinations are not held properly, they will lose their credibility completely.
The state board has taken a step to make the process comfortable for students with special measures such as extra time for all, relief related to the exam centre and an additional chance to appear for the exams this year. Students should rather focus on preparations," said an official from the state government's education department, adding that the exams would be held in the offline format.