SSC corrections: Points to ponder
With the SSC exams (main papers) coming to an end, parents and students must have heaved a sigh of relief. The assessment of these papers is also going to commence soon. As on June 1, Goa Board has not communicated the official dates to those involved in the work of assessment. This time, as the dark shadows of community transmission of COVID-19 start creeping in, the teaching fraternity will surely be feeling the jitters. In these uncertain times, Goa Board is duty bound to reveal the safety measures it has employed to reduce the risk, the paper assessors will face while fulfilling their duties. Permit me to raise a few points/questions on the topic.
Will the correction centres and answer booklets be sanitised on a prior date? About the latter, I have my doubts. Will three correction centres be enough for the whole of Goa? Will there be sufficient space to ensure social distancing?
Previously, the moderator and scrutiniser were separate individuals. But according to sources, this time around, the moderator would have to shoulder the responsibility of the scrutiniser too. In the past, the scrutiniser has played a very important role in identifying errors in the assessment of papers. But this year with an additional role, will the moderator not be overburdened? Will he be able to do an impeccable job?
I would request Goa Board to reflect on this and conform to the past practice. Whatever reasons Goa Board may cite, such a move was uncalled for and is fraught with risks. Let’s try to make corrections as perfect a job as is humanly possible. I hope better sense prevails.
Elliton Fernandes, by email
Board exams a lesson for our future
‘Tenth standard is the most crucial time of one’s life,’ this statement often repeated haunted me most when I was in the exam hall. Rewinding back to when the exams were nearing, I was preparing for my exams and as the day approached, we were hit by the pandemic and the exams were cancelled. What was to happen was unknown.
A month later, the new exam dates were announced but there were objections from several parents and many were sure that the exams would again be cancelled, causing uneasiness among students. Despite the disagreement among people, the board stood firm with the decision to conduct these critical exams. A day before the exams, I remember thinking to myself: ‘Will I perform well in my exams or will I not?’ The dreaded thought stayed with me the whole night. I thought that if I did badly, I would fail my entire life. I felt like I was being locked up in a dark room, completely over-come with fear and it did not allow me to eat, sleep or think properly.
Finally the day arrived and the exams passed. In the end I realised that it was just one part of my life where I felt stressed and scared. What I understood was that, like the board exams, there will be many obstacles in life which we must face no matter what, and these situations mould us into a better person for tomorrow.
Harrison Emilio Coelho do Amaral
Act against traffic rule violations
Despite the Supreme Court having ruled that no vehicle can be altered so as to change the original specification made by manufacturer, the law is being flouted with impunity.
The sound pollution created by modifying silencers of two-wheelers is an awful nuisance to the general public, especially in the villages disturbing the sleep of the elderly and children. The authorities need to crack the whip and act deterrently against every modified vehicle for contravening the law.
Minors illegally riding two-wheelers, and sometimes even four-wheelers, is a matter of great concern. Owners of such vehicles must be severely punished for having allowed the unlicenced minors access of their vehicles. Traffic police and Transport Department officials must also act against the chronic rash, negligent and over speeding on the roads. There are various places in the State where youth in particular have races with their vehicles on open stretches of public road, which is dangerous and an annoyance to the residents of the area. Action against tinted glasses too must be taken against all without fear or favour.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Schools need to reopen soon
The news that appeared in Herald is disturbing to some parents. Though over two lakh parents opine that the e-learning mode should continue, it does not seem advisable. Just as five fingers of a hand are of different sizes, the IQ of all the children is not the same. Those who are bright may be able to grasp the concepts better than those with lower IQ as they need no guidance from their teachers. What about those children with a low IQ? Many of them have no proper infrastructure and the e-learning mode may not suit them.
Moreover, in case difficulties arise it may cause hardships to contact the teachers. Having analysed the situation the children will encounter, it would be advisable that the earlier schools, colleges and coaching classes reopen the better it will be for the students as there will be better contact with the teachers in all respects keeping in view the guidelines to be followed.
The authorities concerned and the parents ought to introspect properly before going ahead with the proposal made by some parents lest many children experience unexpected results after the declaration of the Board exams.
Aureo Cunha Gomes, Mapusa
Keep it up COVID-19 warriors
We felt happy to read excerpts of the interview with Dr Edwin Gomes on Herald (May 31). Thank you Herald, for taking this initiative. We profusely thank Dr Edwin and his frontline COVID team – Dr Harshat, Dr Nidhi, Dr Geetali and Dr Masood – for saying ‘yes’ to God’s call and accepting this challenge to treat the COVID patients, when some other doctors could not give their consent.
When we saw the group photograph of the five doctors, we felt we were meeting them in person. All of them look joyful and enthusiastic. We strongly feel that they must be approaching the patient joyful. This stimulating attitude, motivates the patient to be happy with positive thoughts. An example of a patient’s thought could be as follows: “If these young doctors can happily take a risk and come to treat me, why shouldn’t I think positive, and get cured soon? My speedy recovery is the best expression of my gratitude towards them. When I defeat the virus, it is they, who are successful in the eyes of the public.”
We appreciate and thank all other doctors, nurses, and all the staff connected with COVID treatment. Are not all of you, God’s Warriors? We feel certain that, this challenging work can access for you, many blessings from God.
Marceline Rebello, Margao
