The Chairperson of the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Examinations mentioned that the state will go ahead with the class X and XII board examinations as per schedule. While several boards and states have either called off or postponed council exams due to the surging COVID-19 tallies, Goa officials informed on Thursday, that no such decision will be implemented here. Class XII exams are scheduled to begin from April 24, while class X exams are scheduled to start from May 13.
Only 12 students to be allowed in one examination hall
As many as 43,547 students have registered to appear for both the examinations, which will be held at more than 100 centres, throughout Goa. Strict protocols will be imposed to prevent the spread of the infection among students and supervising authorities. “Every examination centre will have a thermal scanner, social distancing will be enforced, and face masks will be compulsory. Only 12 students will be allowed per examination hall. If it is a bigger hall, up to 17 students will be allowed,” the GBSHSE Chairperson said.
He also said that students who are in quarantine would be escorted by the health department staff to designated isolated centres. These staff members will also assist the students appearing for the board examinations. “If a student is ill or his or her family member is unwell due to Covid, the quarantine period will be taken into account. As regards students who are in quarantine, schools will have to make us a request through the principal. We will conduct the exams at an isolated centre,” Shetye said.
Meanwhile, Goa recorded 757 fresh cases on Thursday, marking its sharpest single-day rise, since the outbreak of the virus last year. With this, the state tallies have surged to 64,572 total and 5,683 active cases here. As yet, 58,028 recoveries and 862 virus related fatalities have been reported here.