PONDA: Expressing unhappiness over cancellation of exams for classes from first to eighth, in view of the coronavirus outbreak, the Parents and Teachers Associations (PTAs) of many schools in Ponda have demanded that the exams be conducted in April.
Holding that the cancellation of the exam would affect the learning of the students, the PTAs opine that in the best interest of the students, the Education Department should postpone the exams and hold it in April.
The President of PTA of Sarawaswati High School at Kavlem said, “Exams are important for the student to understand their syllabus and go to the next level. Even though there is a government policy to promote upto eighth standard, exams must be conducted; otherwise, students feel that they can pass without studying the syllabus.”
He said that since holidays are declared till March 31, the students would waste their time. “The exams are also a test of teachers to know, from the results, that their students understood their teaching.”
A Ponda resident Viraj Sapre said that till ninth the students are promoted, but in ninth many fail because of “no fail policy”.
“Under such circumstances exams are a must. Due to no fail policy many are promoted to ninth, but thousands fail and many get drop out of school after ninth. This should not happen,” he said.
A parent Nayan Naik said that in ninth many weak students fail. “If the government is really interested in the students not dropping out from school, then, it should adopt pass policy till tenth so that they get government jobs,” he said.
He claimed that after dropping out from schools, many students get into bad company, drugs and anti-social activities.
