Govt. sticks to KEAM schedule, ignores calls to postpone exam

Thiruvananthapuram: A high-level meeting chaired by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the state capital on Monday decided to go ahead with Kerala entrance examination for admission to professional degree courses (KEAM) which was scheduled on July 16.
The chief minister said the government has no reason to further change the exam date.
There were demands from several quarters for the revising the schedule, considering the rising number of Covid cases and tighter restrictions on the movement of people.The state entrance test was initially scheduled for May, but was later postponed to July 16 on account of Covid-19-related health emergencies.
“There was a meeting with officials and secretary concerned on Monday morning. It’s was informed in the meeting that all arrangements are in place and the examination can be conducted smoothly without any change in schedule. Special arrangements would be made for students under observation. Separate rooms would be arranged for such candidates at exam centres. There would be no restrictions on them for reaching the exam centres,” the CM said.
However, there will be a change in the exam venue in New Delhi. Instead of Kerala Education Society, SMS Marg, near Mandi House Metro Station, the exam will be conducted at J C Bose University of Science and Technology, YMA Sector 6, Mathura Road, Faridabad, said state commissioner for entrance examinations.
Meanwhile, BJP state unit demanded the state government to postpone the examination, considering the ordeal in store for around one lakh students and their parents. Since public transport vehicles are off the roads, all candidates will have to depend on private vehicles to reach the examination venue. “Why the government is in an unnecessary hurry while highly competitive exams like JEE Mains and advanced are only held in September,” BJP state general secretary P Sudheer said .