Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Nov 12: After class 10th examinations, the annual examination of class 12th today commenced in Kashmir with more than 70, 000 candidates from various streams set to write the exams in days to come.
With the start of it, more than 20, 000 students appeared in the examinations and wrote various papers of different streams across more than 600 examination centres that were set up across Kashmir.
The exam which is being conducted by the J&K State Board of School Education (JKBOSE), commenced around 11:30 am and culminated at around 2:30 pm with students seen assembling outside their respective centres soon after 10: 30 am.
“For various papers today, as it marked the beginning of the exam, 26272 candidates appeared in the exam out of total 26437—165 remained absent across 626 examination centres that were set up in Kashmir,” Aijaz Haqaq, Joint Secretary Examinations of JKBOSE told Excelsior.
He said that all the arrangements were made keeping in view the COVID-19 guidelines across all the examination centres. “The students were facilitated in every possible way throughout the day,” he said.
Notably, all these exams are being held amid strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocols, with the use of masks and maintaining social distance declared as mandatory.
The examination centres, ahead of exams, were fumigated and the seating arrangement was made keeping in view the SOPs. “Fumigation of all exam halls was done and hand-sanitizers, masks were made available to the students,” an official said.
The students reaching the centres were allowed to enter after their temperatures were recorded and no one was being allowed without a facemask.
“We had made masks and sanitizers available at all the exam centres and the same was provided to the students, in case they needed,” an official said.
The students said that they were confident of doing well despite telling circumstances for last more than one year.
“We had to attend the classes online and with 2G it was worse, but we managed and we are confident of doing well,” a student said.
While the students appeared happy and enthusiastic, they also complained of lack of heating facilities at various centres in Srinagar amid bone-chilling cold that has engulfed the Valley.
Also, keeping in view the pandemic situation, the JKBOSE has given a general relaxation of 40 per cent in the syllabus. After the relaxation, the students are now required to attempt only 60 per cent of marks which shall be deemed as equivalent.
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