Intermediate exams likely to be postponed

The Intermediate exams scheduled for March 10 are likely to be postponed to March 22 because of the ‘Million March’ announced by the Telangana Joint Action Committee. Intermediate students are scheduled to appear for their English paper on March 10. The state government is likely to make a formal announcement on postponement of the exam on Saturday.

However, the government is still undecided over whether to restrict the exam postponement only to Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts, or extend it to the entire Telangana region, or the whole state.

The government has also decided to write to the CBSE and ICSE Boards to postpone their exams scheduled on March 10 for Class X and XII students. CBSE has scheduled the social science exam for that day, while ICSE has scheduled environmental science and Class XII Board has fixed the commerce exam on March 10.

The minister for secondary education, Mr K. Parthasarathi, on Friday held an all-party meeting to discuss the issue. Later, speaking to reporters, he said, all the parties were unanimous in demanding the postponement of exams scheduled on March 10. “I will convey the feelings of all the political parties to the Chief Minister on Saturday. After discussing the issue with the CM, we will make a final announcement,” Mr Parthasarathi said.

However, the officials of the Board of Intermediate Education, who were present at the meeting, suggested that the minister postpone the exam either in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts or the entire Telangana region, but there was no need to postpone it throughout the state.

The ‘Inter’ Board drafts three different sets of question papers for all the exams. Officials are of the view that reserved sets can be used to conduct a re-exam for students in those areas where exams are postponed and there was no need to postpone the exam in the entire state.

The TJAC, meanwhile, has demanded the government conduct the Intermediate exams from March 14. The TJAC chairman, Prof. Kodandaram, alleged that the government was deliberately conducting examination from March 7 to scuttle the Telangana movement.

“Exams were postponed for couple of days last year and there was no effect on subsequent entrance tests. Why is the government adamant now?” he asked.

Source: DC