Oops! Officials say ongoing exams unjustified, provide impunity to ‘erring schools’

While many flood-hit schools in the City have been running class work from allegedly unsafe and unhygienic buildings –risking the life of schoolchildren –a latest worry which has added to the miseries of students and their parents is of pre-board and other exams being conducted by the private institutions.
Though the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) admits that such exams have “no legality”, the department has been looking the other way.
The complainants alleged that the official machinery has been silent only to seek undue favors from the schools at a time when “admission season is on.” “As the admission season is on, Babus want to be in the good books of these erring schools. This is a main reason why every official in the administration is silent over these illegal exams. Otherwise what prevents the concerned from initiating action?” argued a delegation of aggrieved parents.
In apparent violation of the Cabinet decision that exams would be held in March 2015, many private schools in the City have been holding unit tests and other exams.
Failing to persuade school authorities to avoid “untimely exams” the flood-hit students have even  been holding roadside protests. The protesting students plead that conduct of exams at this point of time is “unreasonable, inhumane and harsh.” Students and their parents said the exams aim at noting but “fee grab”.
“Most of the students have lost their homes and household. These students are facing problems of shelter and are living a very painful and miserable life. More importantly, majority of students lost their books and notes they had prepared after putting in hard labor,” the students plead.
Shaheen Mushtaq, a parent said holding Golden Tests was irrelevant. “School people said Golden Test merit will decide fee for admission to class 11th… Why not to decide merit from final Board exams? Why victimize our flood hit children who are already under trauma?” she argued.
Also objections are being raised over the structural safety and hygiene of the school campuses while the DSEK, as per parents, is silent on the issue concerning life of schoolchildren.
Mental health experts on the other hand said the exams at this time would unduly burden the traumatized students. “In this prevalent rote memory system of exams you have to memorize things, where children are dependant on books…  If tests were really needed it could be innovative, which provoke thinking. But in the given system these rote memory exams are unnecessary burden,” said a noted child psychologist, asking not to be identified.
Chief Education Officer Srinagar admitted that ongoing conduct of exams was not justified. “There’s no legality in traumatizing the schoolchildren when there’s already a Cabinet decision that exams be held in March,” the CEO told Greater Kashmir. To a question why no action initiated against “erring schools,” he said it was for the higher ups to decide. “It’s better to contact Secretary Education or Director in this regard,” he said.
Meanwhile the complainants have sought intervention of the District Magistrate Farooq Ahmed Shah into the matter. “Since last year the DM has often been making the erring schools accountable. Why is he silent this time,” asked a delegation of parents seeking his immediate intervention.