Students demands to postpone exams till weather improves, authorities to take decision after monitoring situation

Wahid Bhat

SRINAGAR NOV 4 (PTK): Students of 12th class hailing from far-flung areas have urged Jammu and Kashmir Board of school education to postpone exams, scheduled to be held  tomorrow.

A group students while talking to News agency Press Trust of Kashmir said, “Due to heavy snowfall and rain roads are blocked in different parts of Kashmir valley. If the weather remains inclement there is every possibility about students not reaching examinations centres.

They added that there was no electricity, hence no light, and thus we could not prepare for our exams after dusk. Moreover due to the weather conditions, it is very difficult to reach the exam centres and then write in such cold weather”.

“We have no heating systems put in place by the government. We shiver due to dip in the temperatures, however the government seems to have been little interested in providing some sort of relief to the student community,” students said.

They added that “we are not able to focus exam paper as they shiver in classrooms and request JKBOSE authority to postpone tomorrow exam paper”.

“It’s not possible to attend tomorrow exam paper, we keep shivering inside the classroom when exams started,” said Tabasum Riyaz a student of 12th class.

Meanwhile reports sad that thirty two students of class 10 have missed their exams yesterday in Tulail area of Gurez valley in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district due to heavy snowfall.

Directorate of School Education establishes helpline for students besides proper heating, lighting arrangements to be ensured at all examination centres.

For the benefit of stake holders particularly student community, Directorate of School Education has also established a helpline number 9419013675 wherein the students and other concerned can register their grievances of issues for speedy redressal.

Director School Education G N Itoo said that entire department has been directed to work with extra zeal so that students do not face any problems while appearing in their examinations.

The Director has gave strict instructions to all Chief Education Officers (CEO) to ensure that proper heating and lighting arrangements are put in place in all the examination centers, besides facilitating transport arrangement during late hours for students in tar flung areas wherever required. The officers have been asked to work in coordination with district administration who have already been given directions by the government. CEOs have been asked to share details with the concerned Deputy Commissioners in this regard.

For the smooth conduct of examinations for all classes from 5th to 12th, review meetings were held in North, South and Central Kashmir. While chairing the review meeting at Sopore, Itoo emphasised upon all the field officers that while making arrangements for smooth conduct of examinations in far-flung and cut off areas, additional facilities of heating and lighting arrangements should be put in place. The Director also emphasised for a better coordination between School Education Department BOSE and District administration. Joint Direct North, Principal SIE and all the Chief Education Officers and Zonal Education Officers of North Kashmir attended the meeting.

Similar meetings were held in South and Central Kashmir which were chaired by concerned Joint Directors. All concerned officials were directed to make optimum use of available resources so that all the arrangements are put in place for the smooth conduct of examinations.

Speaking to News agency Press Trust of Kashmir, Incharge Joint Secretary, Examinations Syed Abdul Rouf he said “I can’t say anything regarding this issue, I can’t decide either exams will be postpone or not”.

Meanwhile Sources from the department confirmed Press Trust of Kashmir News agency that High-level meeting is underway and authorities is monitoring the situation, and decision will be taken accordingly.   (PTK)