A PIL (Public Interest Litigation) filed at the Karnataka High Court directs the state government to reconsider its decision to conduct the SSLC or Class 10 board exams amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The examination is slated to be held on July 19 and 20 according to reports from Live Law.
The petition filed by S V Singre Gowda states that due to the pandemic and classes being held online, students have faced difficulties in understanding the subjects. Moreover, several institutions, especially those in rural areas might have not conducted online classes.
It further said that since the state government has already cancelled the PUC or Class 12 Examination and promoted students based on Class 10 and 1st PUC exam marks, the same criteria could be adopted for the SSLC students.
The petition also notified that since vaccination for children between age groups 1- 18 has not yet begun holding the exams might be life-threatening in such a scenario.
The Secondary School Leaving Certification examination or the 10th standard exam will take place on July 19 and July 22 where multi-choice objective type questions will be asked, Karnataka Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar said while announcing the decision.
"This time the SSLC exam, conducted by the state board, will be held in two days. The core subject exam such as mathematics, Social Science and Science will be held on July 19 and language subject exam will take place on July 22. Both the exams will take place from 10.30 AM to 1.30 PM," the minister told reporters.
He also said that all the exams will have objective type multiple choice questions, which will be easy. A sample paper has been uploaded on the website. Also, it will be sent to the schools to tell students how to write it. Kumar said the SSLC exams are necessary for students to select their stream. According to him, last year 8.46 lakh students had appeared for the exam but this year 8,76,581 students will write it.
Kumar said the Standard Operating Procedure issued by the Health department has been sent to the deputy commissioners, chief executive officers, senior police officers and treasury officers to hold the exam.
To protect the sanctity of the exam, prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC will be in place around 200 metres from the exam hall, the minister said.
(With inputs from agencies)
