Varsha Gaikwad, the School Education Minister on Saturday announced that students upto Class VIII would be promoted to next class. The decision will have larger impact on the society as gradually students are losing interest. Most school heads in Nagpur expressed, in fact examinations should be conducted that too off-line as it is the real assessment of students. Resmi Umesh, Principal of Saraswati Vidyalaya pointed out, “Students are gradually losing interest in facing the examinations. Promoting or cancelling the examination would give no result. In fact it would damage the students’ prospects. If students are promoted then they would get easy marks.

 

They will not be able to use their ability.” According to Resmi Umesh, Government should have declared the academic year as Zero year. It means students should be admitted in the same class in which they were this year. The child will take the lessons of the same class next year. This would strengthen their foundation that is what Umesh feels. Kumkum Ghosh, Hindi Dnyanpeeth Convent, Laxmi Nagar branch stated, “Last year we had already faced the repercussions of the decisions. Promoting students to next classes was a very bad idea. Ability of students can be tested through off-line examination. With schools are closed for the last one year, students have become habitual of living in comfort zone. This state is very bad. Most students did not attend the classes even.” Laxmi Mozarkar, Principal of Sindhi Hindi High School and Junior College, Khamla, has welcomed the decision.

 

She said, “Most students don’t have even the access to internet. Many of them don’t have the required gadgets. In our school, I personally know the students, their financial condition. Classes were not held throughout the year. So we can’t expect students to perform well given the pandemic situation.” Makrand Pandharipande, Chairman of The Blind Relief Association that runs The BRA Mundle School “Situation is very bad. Coming to any conclusion at this juncture is very difficult. The academic loss due to bad COVID 19 situation was witnessed last year. I must admit the fact that last year students, parents and even the schools suffered a lot. I personally feel everything should be done depending upon the situation. I think I agree with the decision taken by Minister.

 

We have made all efforts, teachers took hard work and prepared the question bank. Now we can’t make students to appear in the examination.” Vaishali Dakhole, Principal of Somalwar High School, Ramdaspeth commented, “I would accept cancellation of examinations of classes below X. An internal assessment of the students of classes below Class X can be made. This would give an idea to the schools about the students’ ability.”