Chandigarh: Private school told to explain why no online mode for February exams

CHANDIGARH: The district education officer, UT Chandigarh, on Wednesday sought an explanation from a Sector 9-based private school for not offering online mode of examination to students of classes IX and XI for their February exams. Parents wrote a letter to the UT education department on Tuesday after they did not get any response from the school principal, following requests.
Parents are meanwhile trying all possible ways like personal letters to the school principal to Tweets to senior officials of the UT, requesting for online mode as an option for February exams.They are yet to receive any response.
Parents, not willing to come on record, said they are concerned about the exams to be conducted in offline mode in February. They are apprehensive of sending their children to school under these conditions.
The parents questioned that when the university and college exams were happening online due to the pandemic, then how can students of classes IX and XI be forced to give offline exams. “Our children are younger and more vulnerable. When they are having online exams, then why our girls don’t have the option,” a parent said on anonymity.
Nitin Goyal, president of the Chandigarh parents’ association, said, “In the absence of an option to attend the school online, asking for parents’ consent for physical attendance is meaningless.”
Director school education Rubinderjit Singh Brar said, “Schools must give proper time for preparation for offline exams and the shall hold offline exams in March after one month of offline teaching as far as possible in consultation with the stakeholders. Rest we will look into the matter.”