Parents urge national open schooling board to scrap Class X, XII tests

CHENNAI: Following the cancellation of CBSE board exams, parents are demanding that National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) board exams, scheduled to start from July 17, also be scrapped due to rising Covid-19 cases. More than 1,000 students are set to appear for NIOS Class X and XII exams in the city.
More than three lakh students from across the country, including 2,400 from TN, are to appear for NIOS board exams scheduled from July 17 to August 13. Hemamalini Narayanan, a parent, said nobody seems concerned about special children appearing for NIOS exams. “CBSE and state boards have cancelled exams. Most children can’t wear masks for long due to sensory issues. They should cancel the exam and promote all the children,” she said.
Some schools have decided to conduct exams in October exam due to difficulty in getting scribes. “Even if NIOS conducts the exam, none of our students will be able to sit for them because we can’t get scribes. It is also difficult to maintain social distancing with the scribe. We have to write it only in October or whenever the exam is rescheduled,” said Kalpana Rao, principal of Vidya Sagar.
When asked about the demand for scrapping exams, NIOS officials ruled out promoting the students. “We cannot promote students as we don’t have internal exams or other assessments like regular students. We have no other choice but to conduct the exams,” an official said, adding that students can always take exams whenever they are ready.
”There are some students who have to appear for IIT-JEE and Neet exams as well. Some want to enroll into colleges and higher secondary classes. They need to clear the exams,” the official said.