Mumbai rains: Schools, colleges shut, but board holds exam!

Almost 1,200 HSC and SSC students are taking the supplementary board exams in Mumbai. Representation pic

Students and parents are furious after the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) did not cancel or postpone the ongoing supplementary board exams on Thursday, despite the red alert for the city and suburbs due to the heavy rain.

Given the incessant rainfall that the city received on Wednesday and in anticipation of the heavy downpour predicted for Thursday, a holiday was declared for all private and government-run schools in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and Raigad. A circular to this effect was issued late on Wednesday evening by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and deputy director of school education. The holiday was declared for schools and junior colleges too.

The Mumbai University also postponed all its exams that were scheduled on July 27. The next date for the deferred exam will be communicated later, varsity officials said.

However, the state board did not issue any such guidelines or advisory for students, leaving them in confusion. The supplementary board examinations of Stds 10 and 12 began on July 18. As per sources, 800 HSC and about 400 SSC students are taking the supplementary board exams in Mumbai while there are close to 8,000 HSC and SSC students across the state.

"My parents were confused as last week the exam scheduled on July 20 was cancelled and rescheduled after the heavy rain alert. This time, the BMC education department issued the notification, but nothing came from the board. Later we inquired at my centre and I was told exams are being held as per schedule," said an SSC student.

The parent of a student who is appearing for the HSC exams said, "Even the Mumbai University postponed all its exam scheduled on July 27. However, there was no notification by the board. There were circulars by the BMC and its education department announcing schools will remain closed owing to heavy rain forecast, so we assumed that there will be no exams today. At the last moment my daughter's friend called to ask something and said the exam will be held. My daughter reached late for the exam due to this."

Nitin Upasani, chairman of the Mumbai division of MSBSHSE said, "There were no specific notifications published pertaining exams and so they were not cancelled. We had informed all those in charge and principals on our WhatsApp group about this."

He added, "If someone missed the exam, it won't be possible for us to conduct a re-exam for one or two students. So far we have not received any complaint from any students saying they have missed the exam. Yes it did rain heavily, but the situation was not as bad as a candidate would not be able to reach the centre. The decision to hold the exam was taken only after talking to district education officials and all authorities knew about this."

Nitin Dalvi, a Maharashtra State Student-Parent Teacher Federation representative and educational activist said, "How can the state board take such a step, when the state education department and the BMC declared a holiday, the Mumbai University deferred all its exams? If students failed to reach the exam centre and missed the exam due to this blunder, the state should take responsibility and conduct a re-exam for them."