Be Prepared! In Times Of Covid-19 Pandemic Exams Are Going To Be Different

Students eagerly awaiting their pending exams will have to be prepared for extensive precautions.

Representational Image/ Getty

New Delhi: As students prepare to give pending exams all over the country during the pandemic and the lockdown, it is going to be different from how exams are usually conducted. The beginning of VHSEs and SSLC exams in Kerala on Tuesday marks what the future of students will look like in the coming days. A guideline was drafted by the state health department before the beginning of the papers and it was mainly the teachers’ responsibility to ensure that the students are aware of how they must behave on the day of the examination. According to reports, with more than two-month break, at most schools, teachers had formed WhatsApp groups, and communication was constantly passed to the students on how they should behave once at the school. "Practically every day for the past one week I was interacting with my students that I am in charge, through WhatsApp. So, by today everyone knew how to behave. We also have instructed all to bring their own drinking water and adequate stock of pens and pencils. For those who fail to bring their own water bottle, will be given in disposable cups," said a teacher in Palakkad according to an IANS report. Some of the measures that were taken at the centers to prevent the spread of COVID-19 give a peek into what exams may look like for students in other states even if the arrangements might be a little different.

• Students were given transportation, to and from the centers (including KSRTC buses designated for this duty), while private transportation was allowed students who found circumstances where neither of it worked, they were driven in a police vehicle to their respective centers according to a local newspaper.
• Students we asked to report 30 mins prior to the exam time.
• More teachers were on duty than usual, students’ temperature was checked before entering the examination hall. The same goes for the teachers and staff who were on duty during the exam time. More than 5000 infrared thermometers were bought solely for the exam time.
• Students had to use sanitizer before entering the exam hall, they had to wear face masks which covered their mouth and nose.
• Students were not allowed to share pens or stationery and were told to bring their own kits a week before.
• Teachers and staff had to wear gloves and were not allowed to anything without time, including the answer sheet. There was a box to dispose of the gloves carefully.
• Students who were quarantined or have a member of the family quarantined had a designated zone, which had its own path to move in and out.
• Answer sheets were to be wrapped in plastic bags before sending them to be evaluated. Quarantined student's papers were wrapped in separate plastic bags.
• Students were also directed to take a shower as soon as they reached home.

Such extensive measures were needed to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. The Ministry of Home Affairs also issued fresh a set of guidelines for the CBSE board exams, which includes not having a center in containment zones, transportation for students, and two sessions instead of one. The number of centers was also increased to make sure social distancing norms are met.