Give students a breather between exams

Parents start campaign against six annual exams

Gone are the days when school students caught exam fever only once in three months. Now with four unit tests and two semesters in an academic year, there is hardly any breathing space for students to take a break from studies.

Parents have put the blame on the state education department that had asked schools to conduct six evaluation exams instead of the pre-existing four.

Parents from the Parents’ and Teachers’ Association (PTA) of Manik Vidyamandir have started a signature petition against the conducting of four unit tests a year.

“We are starting the campaign to persuade the education department to reinstate the older practice where two unit tests were conducted every year,” said Kishore Unniyal, a parent.

The situation has angered parents as well as several teachers and principals, who are having a tough time adjusting to the tight schedule.

“Teachers have to finish portions of the syllabus in a rush and barely have a day for revisions before an exam. They have to set question papers a fortnight in advance and submit the evaluated examination papers after two days of the exam. They also have to check homework and projects,” said the principal of a school in the western suburbs.

“We have been pursuing this matter with the education department for the past year, but to no avail. We will extend support to the PTA members of Manik Vidyamandir in their effort,” said Arundati Chavan, PTA United Forum president.

Deputy Director of State School Education Department Sheila Tiwari said, “The exams are conducted for continuous evaluation of students and remedial teaching. If parents want the older system reinstated, they can give a written complaint and the department along with a panel of experts will decide on the matter.”