‘Students have zero laboratory experience’

Students attend morning class at DS High School in Sion. Pic/Atul Kamble

The upcoming practical assessment and vivas for Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) has triggered anxiety among students.

Teachers are facing a volley of questions not only from students, but also parents for more clarity on the situation. While many schools have been continuing with online classes, students have little or no hands-on laboratory experience. At the same time, no Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been declared for both viva and practical assessment, say parents.

Although the dates for the assessments are out, how these tests will be conducted continues to be a mystery for candidates. Most of them will be appearing for exams after almost two years. For HSC, viva and practicals will be held from February 14 to March 3, while SSC exams will be held from February 25 to March 14.

"Schools and junior colleges reopened in the city from October. However, many [educational institutes] chose to wait until post Diwali to reopen. Even after reopening, all offered the option to study online, given the Covid-19 conditions. Until now there was no clarity on state board exams and now suddenly when the timetable is out, children are bound to feel anxious, especially about practicals as many of them have no practice," shared Sushma Sawant, a parent from Malad. Adding to this, another parent Keshav Sharma said, "Practical assessment is a very important component for those appearing for HSC from the science stream. And students have to have enough laboratory experience to do well."

While schools and colleges are helping resolve queries by students as well as parents, a detailed SOP by the Maharashtra State Board would definitely help, they say. "The focus now for many schools and colleges is to ensure that students get enough practice in the laboratory before the tests start. But there is hardly any time left for it as students also have to prepare for written exams. Having a detailed plan with SOP for practical assessment would definitely ease a lot of pressure."

Chairman of Maharashtra State Board Sharad Gosavi was unavailable to comment. A senior officer from the state board shared, "The Board will issue detailed SOP for written as well as practical assessment. There was one issued last year before the board exams were cancelled. There is no reason to worry."