Covid-19: Students' Interest Is Our Primary Concern, Have Postponed State Board's Intermediate Examinations: Andhra Pradesh Govt Tells High Court

Advocate General S. Sriram has informed a Division Bench comprising of Justices C. Praveen and M Ganga Rao that in pursuance of the petition seeking stay on the conduct of State Board examination, the observations made by the Court and the prevailing Covid-19 situation, the State Government in a meeting held yesterday decided to postpone the intermediate examinations, that were scheduled to be held from May 5, 2021.

A Circular to the above effect will be issued by the Education Department during the course of the day.

The AG stated that the Government will review the situation at the latter end of the month and a decision will be taken having regard to the medical and health conditions prevailing at the time.

He also stated that no decision has been taken so far as Class X examinations are concerned since the same are scheduled after a month, i.e. 7^th June and hence, a decision on the same will be taken on the basis of how the situation evolves in the forthcoming weeks.

On a query made by Justice C. Praveen if some time will be given to intermediate students to prepare for the exams, the AG responded,

"Yes, there will be adequate preparatory period before announcement of final schedule of the exams is made. Students' interest, Covid-19 situation and infrastructure preparedness will be our primary concern while taking any decision."

Based on these assurances, the matter has been adjourned to 2^nd June, 2021, with liberty to the Petitioners to move an appropriate application in the matter before the given date, if the situation warrants.

The matter before the Court

The petitioners represented by Advocate S. Pranathi submitted before the Court that that the decision to conduct Intermediate examinations amid the second wave of the pandemic has the potential of severely compromising health and well-being of not only the students taking the examinations, but also of other stakeholders.

Accordingly, the High Court had asked the State Government, the Andhra Pradesh Board of Secondary Education and the Andhra Pradesh Board of Intermediate Education to take a decision in the matter.

To be Updated with Order