Mumbai: Schools want board students on premises for lab use and exams

A similar request was approved last academic year in February 2021 for international board schools

Non-state board schools in the city may soon invite board exam year (Stds X and XII) students for on premises laboratory sessions and exams. A request regarding this by schools under the School Leaders Network was approved recently by the BMC Education Department and is awaiting final approval from the municipal commissioner.

The SLN (School Leaders' Network) had written a letter to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on September 3, requesting permission for Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE), Cambridge and IB Board schools to conduct in-person examinations for stds X and XII and other related activities such as laboratory work and preliminary examination.

"While Cambridge and IB Board are to hold offline board exams in the months of October-November; for ICSE and CBSE too, there are two terms this year for Stds X and XII. The idea is to have a streamlined process. Anyway, in the current conditions, when schools are expected to go through an open and shut cycle for a couple of years, it is important to begin the new hybrid mode of schooling where what can be managed online should be done online and for some other activities, offline sessions can be held following COVID-safety protocol," said Francis Joseph, president of SLN Network.

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A similar request was sent and approved last academic year in February 2021 for international board schools. Then the lab sessions and exams were held in some schools. Now for this year, final approval is still pending. BMC Education Officer Raju Tadvi said, "Like last time, this year, too, permission will be granted. In a few days the final decision will be declared."