By. Mehak Dhaar
Parallel mechanism and sharing forms one basic characteristic of ours; be it at the domestic level or administrative. Well, our examination pattern has been on the go with the October-November session and thus technically our schools and colleges complete maximum of the syllabus by September-October. This year, legislative elections were expected by ending 2014 and of course the sharing of the staff was anticipated, thus exams were expected in preponement and the syllabus was already being completed in a hasty manner. As a matter of the fact, the students were ready for the exams.
The flood of early September however resulted in the loss of almost a month. Due to differing and varied causes the students mostly remained aloof from the books and studies, however the fact remains the same; Syllabus already was in completion. Thus, this one month verily can be termed as a break, a period of no activity. Once administration again caught pace, colleges were thrown open, especially for the final year students and they were asked to join classes. The schools too (a majority of them) issued final exam date sheet, with the desired and required curtailments and adjustments.
All, the parents, teachers and students themselves were satisfied with the decision. The month of unproductivity was too much to bear and exams were welcomed. All of a sudden, the cabinet decision was throbbed at one and all and March session was announced. To compliment the one month unproductivity, six more were presented. This decision generated a lot of discontent and the same flashed over the newspapers and the rest of the media but no positive nod resulted. And why? What is more important for the upper administration; not education but polls. Let’s invest staff, time and energy on elections, leave education process for six months! Six months? A half year!
As the data shows, only 18% of the students were affected
by the flood. Of this ration, a majority still has saved the books and the reading material. The schools were ready to help such children with all the necessary items and even the colleges were in nod. Though the publishing industry has suffered losses, many of the books still were saved and are being saled. There is 50%-70% discount on all types of books, especially the course ones. The universities across the state, made no postponement of exams neither of classes, they but function normally. The NIT itself, increased the working days from five to six and resumed strict class work.
In the higher order of education, only the graduating college students were banged by this order. A period of six months, means a big deal for the student of undergraduate level. While the exams of the Final Year were conducted by November, the results usually would come by December, Then the students could prepare for the various university entrance examinations, competitive exams and the like. By March-April, the classes for masters course would begin and thus the semester exams afterwards, But by this changed scheme, six-eight months waste is due to everyone. For a final year student it will be the wastage of one year at minimum.
Class X students have an adjustment to do with the changing streams and need time for that. What good would a waste of six months do to them? One time, two boats? Board exams and streamed studies can’t go hand in hand for sixteen years olds. Class XII students have to apply for various colleges and face various competitive exams. Again, one time, two boats. Boards and entrance oriented studies cant go hand in hand. Even the little children, with this break, will only be deprived of discipline and normal working activities; fetching them no good either.
The priority to any and every civilized state ought to be education. It is education that makes the state a better state and turns the youth into a productive human capital. What does dis-education yield? A matriculated education minister! Rendering the tender minds workless for six months can be a no good move. The exams fairly can be conducted by December, with ease. This genuinely will save the most important and precious time of the students and do them lot more good than an extended period of inactivity.
