‘Million March' puts Intermediate students in a fix

With Inter Board unwilling to reschedule exam on March 10, the future of students is in jeopardy
HYDERABAD: Future of thousands of Intermediate students is hanging by the thread with neither the Board of Intermediate Education nor the Telangana JAC inclined to review their respective stances over the ‘Chalo Assembly' aka ‘Million March' scheduled for March 10.

While the Intermediate Board displaying no intention to postpone the English Paper-II exam scheduled for the day, repeated shift in the stand of the Telangana Joint Action Committee about the date of the march has only added to the prevailing confusion.

Students and their parents, who had heaved a sigh of relief on Sunday upon the T-JAC's Convenor Kodandaram's statement that the date of the ‘Million March' would be changed in view of the Intermediate exams, were again in for a shock with his declaration on Monday to go ahead with the march.

“We are utterly clueless about what will happen to our children's academic year. Intermediate is a crucial stage in their career and any disturbance now will leave an indelible mark on the students' life. With such a huge event proposed on the exam day, how can the students be expected to cope with the pressure?” questions M. Sharada, mother of an Intermediate student.

Despite assurances from the JAC against boycotting the exams or stopping the examinees, few from the student community are free from apprehensions.

“Who can you hold responsible? The student may not reach on time, or the exam may be delayed due to the non-cooperation of the teachers. Any small commotion experienced by a student either on the way or at the exam centre can affect his performance adversely,” says Srinivas (name changed), a teacher.

CBSE at a loss

While there is still time for the Intermediate Board to reconsider its decision to go ahead with the exam, no such hope exists for the Class X students of CBSE schools who are to attempt their Social Sciences exam from 10.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. on the said day.

As the CBSE exams are traditionally conducted from March 1 across the length and breadth of the country, a change of date in the city alone is highly unlikely. On a similar occasion earlier, the Board reportedly asked the schools to see how best they can manage, as it cannot postpone the exam.

“We have apprised the Board of the situation. But it is unlikely that the exam will be postponed. We are getting innumerable calls from students, some of them weeping over the thought of losing a year,” says D. Usha Reddy, Principal of the Meridian School and Chairperson of the Hyderabad Sahodaya Schools Complex (HSSC).

There are about 65 CBSE schools under the HSSC alone, and the number could go beyond 100 if those under the Ranga Reddy district are included.

The march will create problems not only for thousands of students, but also for the school managements who have to collect the question papers from banks an hour before the exam time.

The HSSC has sent a written appeal to the TRS Chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday asking him to reconsider the date for the Chalo Assembly Campaign.

Any bandh during March will upset the exam schedule and have deep repercussions for the students as they will not be able to appear for entrance exams for higher studies, it said.