Don’t send unwell kids to campus, they will be allowed to write separate tests: Kolkata schools – Times of India

KOLKATA: Almost every day, one or two children are landing up at the school gates or at bus stops with a runny nose or slight temperature, who are being sent back home for the fear that they might infect others.

These children are being sent to school by their parents who fear that they will miss out on the ongoing exams. This is especially true for classes X and XII who are currently writing their pre-board exams in many schools. Taking note of this trend, schools have now announced that parents need not worry about their unwell children missing out on exams. Parents have been told that for unwell children, separate on-site examinations will be held.

Online counselling sessions are being held where not only school principals but also subject teachers are interacting with parents of sick kids.

It was natural for children to fall sick in this season and not all fever was Covid, but chances could not be taken at this time, said a school official.

One such school is South Point where parents who had given false statements in their desperation to send their kids to school. “Classes X and XII are doing their practice tests now and those missing out for illness will be given a separate set of tests online. The final exams for classes IX and XI are due in March and those who are not well will be offered a re-test,” said Krishna Damani, spokesperson for the school.

At The Heritage School, when parents of class X and XII kids, who are sick, were given the option to write their test from home, they requested for a separate on-site test and were allowed that. “Parents told us they wanted their wards to be given the formatted pen-and-paper three-hour on-site examination to get them used to the system,” said Seema Sapru, principal of the school.

Similar assurances have been given at Ram Mohan Mission, too, where the X and XII students are now writing their pre-boards and the IX and XI are about to start their final examinations. “We have requested parents not to send kids if they are ill. This is a tricky season and we need to be careful about the virus spread. Parents needn’t fear because we will make separate arrangements for them,” said principal, Sujoy Biswas.

DPS Ruby Park is about to meet and finalise their plan of action as the final examinations for IX, X and XI are about to start. Class XII has already finished their online pre-board exams but will come for their offline practice test to the campus. “This is the season of measles and chickenpox and we all need to be careful. The school is not a jail, we are just as caring as parents are, so they needn’t fear,” assured vice-principal, Indrani Chattopadhyay.