Odisha: Board exam to be held offline

BHUBANESWAR: Despite statewide protests by students over board exam cancellation demand, the Odisha government on Thursday announced that the assessments will be held offline.
"Students must start preparing for the board exams to be conducted offline by their respective boards," said chief secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra.
Following the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, students got divided over whether the board exams should be held or not.While some want the exam to be cancelled, others are rooting for offline exams. Experts and parents said exams should be conducted for better career prospects of students.
On Thursday, a group of students held an agitation, seeking the exam to be cancelled. Another group of students staged a demonstration, demanding offline exam. "Last year, the state government made a major mistake by cancelling the board exams and giving marks to students based on their performance two years ago. If the government repeats the same mistake and cancels the board exams this year again, then it will completely disrupt the education system. Also, it will have serious impact on the career of students," said Prabodh Panda, former controller of examination of the CHSE.
"The government may delay the exam for a few months and conduct it offline after completing the course," Panda added.
"Schools resumed offline teaching from October to January 10, in which over 50% of courses was completed. Students should welcome the state government's move to reopen offline classes. They must not take the alibi of Covid to cancel the exam. In the past two years, the learning loss is immense, and it is time to fill the gap," said Kamala Prasad Mohapatra, an academician.
Mitali Mohapatra, mother of a class-12 student, expressed her concern over his son Subham's academic career. She said, "With so much uncertainty over board exams, the children are in a confused state of mind. They cannot afford to miss one year of their career. The government must consider holding exams offline."