With schools in the national capital closed since March and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) announcing practical exams in two months, several teachers and principals are concerned about how these evaluations will be carried out with little practical learning experience, especially in science. flow students.
Up to 2,168 schools in the national capital are affiliated with the CBSE, which generally begins conducting board examinations for students in classes 10 and 12 in February. On Thursday, the board announced that it would hold exams between May and June and practices starting March 1.
CBSE’s exam controller Sanyam Bhardwaj specified that the board would “not dilute the exam quality measures.” “Generally, schools would have time between January and mid-February to take board exams. This time, however, after consulting with all stakeholders, we have increased that time frame. Schools can take practical exams between March and June 10. This would allow schools the flexibility to conduct practical exams in smaller batches while maintaining social distancing and other Covid-19 guidelines. “
Several principals are concerned that many parents are not eager to send their children to school before the Covid-19 vaccine is implemented. School authorities have also planned to discuss the issue with parents once the schools reopen after winter break.
Divya Bhatia, Principal, Amity International School, Saket, said it would be “impossible” for students in class 12 to take science lab sessions in front of an external examiner before having hands-on experience.
“Each science subject has 8 to 10 experiments. Students need to see the deflections of a galvanometer or make electrical circuits on their own. For biology, they need to look at the cells with a microscope available at school, perform titrations and other experiments in chemistry, “he said, adding that they plan to talk with parents to see if they would be willing to allow the children to go to the labs. in smaller batches.
Directors also have doubts about the practical examination of the boards. Ameeta Wattal, Principal of Springdales School, Pusa Road, said: “We need more clarity on whether the practical exams will be carried out in online or offline mode. If the exams are taken offline, we will need to give the students some hands-on experience before the exam. “
The internal assessment component comprises 20-30 points for various subjects and often includes a practical component in the form of projects or viva voce or both. Teachers said they do not face as much difficulty in other subjects compared to science subjects.
For example, in Computer Science, which has 30 points in the practice category, Tania Joshi, director of The Indian School, said that since most students have computers at home, classes have continued without much difficulty. For subjects like Psychology, where students must take psychological tests as practical, the component has been connected.
“Students are taking the tests online or are taking them with their families. For subjects such as Political Science and History, teachers are organizing individual virtual interaction with students to have clarity in their projects, ”he said, adding that they are still awaiting instructions from the authorities on whether or not schools can reopen.
The challenge is even greater in Delhi’s government schools, where the majority of students from disadvantaged backgrounds do not have uninterrupted access to ‘virtual labs or online practices’.
Mudassir Jahan, director of a public school for girls in Noor Nagar, South Delhi, said: “In the next two months, if the cases are reduced and the government allows it, we will call some students to school in larger groups little ones of maybe five students while following all the Covid-19 guidelines. Until then, we can send you videotaped experiments. Our concern is for underperforming students who need additional in-person assistance in all subjects. “
Despite repeated attempts, spokesmen for the Delhi government and officials from the Deputy Prime Minister’s office did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.
In October, the Delhi government had written to CBSE during the practical exams. “Project and practical work is an integral part of any topic. It is pertinent that students practice it in a practical way for a sufficient period of time ”, said the letter sent on October 13.
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