Breaking- "No Reliable Alternative To Assess Students": Andhra Pradesh Govt Seeks Supreme Court's Permission To Conduct Class XII State Board Examination Physically

The State of Andhra Pradesh has on Wednesday informed the Supreme Court that it has decided to conduct Class XII State Board Examination with strict precautionary measures amid COVID.

The submissions have been made by the State through an affidavit in the plea filed filed by Child rights activist Anubha Srivastava Sahai and 7 others, for cancellation of Class XII State Boards, HSC and NIOS physical exams. A division Bench of Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice Dinesh Maheshwari will hear the petition tomorrow.

While stating that the Covid numbers are fast declining in the State, the State has informed the Court that it will endeavour to conduct the examination tentatively in the last week of July 2021 and actual time will be intimated to the students and parents shortly, and 15 days in advance.

According to the State, there does not appear to be a reliable alternative to assess Class XII students of State Board as the Board does not have any check on Internal Examinations conducted by Schools and in Andhra Pradesh grades are being awarded to SSC Class X students instead of marks.

While highlighting that Class XII results play a crucial role in determining students' future as 25% weightage is given to Class XII marks in Common Entrance Exam conducted in the State, the affidavit has stated that authorities are of the view that conducting exams will be in best interest of students.

The affidavit has also pointed out the precautions that will be taken by the State while conducting the exams, including sanitisation of Examination Centre, providing masks and sanitiser at exams centres and maintaining social distancing.

Thermal screening of students and teachers, measures to avoid over crowding of Centres, appointing heath official with health kits at Exam Centres, separate entry and exit points, etc are some other precautions which will be put in place.

The Supreme Court had on Tuesday asked the Andhra Pradesh Government to inform it on June 24 its final decision on holding physical exams for Class 12 of the state board.

Advocate Mahfooz Nazki, appearing for the Andhra Pradesh Government, had informed a vacation bench comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari that the state wants to go ahead with the physical exams for class 12.

The state counsel further said that the final decision on it has been deferred till July 1.

"We feel we will be able to conduct exams. We have deferred decision to July 1st week", Nazki had submitted.

"What if you are unable to conduct exams in July? Why not take that decision now like other States?", the bench had asked.

Observing that the students should not be put to uncertainty, the bench had insisted that the final decision of the state should be conveyed to it within 2 days.

The bench had asked if the state government was confident of conducting exams for 5 lakh students, considering the fact that CBSE, ICSE and nearly 20 state boards have cancelled exams on account of the second wave of the COVID pandemic.

The state counsel had replied in the affirmative adding that necessary safety protocols will be put in place. It will be ensured that there will not be more than 15 students in a hall, he added.

"'If there is one fatality, we will make the state responsible", the bench told the lawyer of Andhra Pradesh Government.