20 May 2020  |   06:22am IST

Test of responsibility for government

Test of responsibility  for government

What does it say of a government that keeps children as young as 15 and 16 year old in a state of suspense over their first public exam? The Class X Board exam is scheduled to begin on May 21, but even 24 hours before the bell rings to announce the start of the paper, there is uncertainity over whether this exam will take place or not.

As COVID-19 cases mount in the State, it brings in the element of insecurity and fear that the novel coronavirus is a real threat. It is for this reason that there have been demands for the postponement of the exam. The government is unyielding on the issue and still maintains that the SSC exams will be held despite the rising figures of positive cases. We admit that all the cases that are currently active are of people who have been arriving from outside the State and that there has been no community transmission yet, but try explaining this to students, the oldest of who would be 16 years old, and to the parents who have shielded their children from outside exposure for the past two months. 

The government should have reviewed the decision once the number of COVID-19 positive cases began to increase. It had the time and the opportunity but it has chosen not to do so. In case there is an incident during the exams, who will remain responsible? If the State government and the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education do adamantly go ahead with the Class X exams, the entire responsiblity of ensuring that the students who will be answering the exam stay safe will be upon them. Do they assume this responsibility? There are reports from France that within a week of schools reopening after the lockdown, there were 70 COVID-19 cases recorded from the schools. Is there a lesson for the Goa government here?

These are not normal times, the government and the board are well aware of this. We are still in a lockdown – with several relaxations no doubt – but there exists the possibility of the novel coronavirus spreading, which is the reason why people are asked to stay indoors as much as possible and go out only if very necessary. Even before the lockdowns could have been imposed, it was schools and educational institutions that were the first to close. So, why the hurry to have the exams now? Other States have postponed the exams, some even cancelled it. Is Goa attempting to prove something here?

It is surprising that the headmasters’ association, and teachers in general, have chosen to remain rather silent on this matter. It is at this time that they should have aired their view on holding public exams in the midst of a pandemic and a lockdown. Isn’t the safety of the children their concern? It is their students who will be answering the exams. It should have mattered to them. But, their deafening silence at this very crucial time and on this critical matter raises questions of their priorities. 

Spare a thought also to what the children would be going through. This will be the first public exam for the 15 and 16 year olds, and with it always comes the anxiety of having to perform well. In the current situation, that is far from normal, the students will be sitting for the exams with the knowledge that these are far from ordinary times for there is a pandemic threatening the world and the country is in lockdown. Will they be in a proper state of mind to give of their best when answering the exam? Obviously not. The government has to ease the pressure on the students and the parents, and also on the people of Goa.


IDhar UDHAR

Idhar Udhar