Yes

In the long run

Students have been among the worst sufferers since the pandemic started. The cancellation of exams has aggravated their problems. With an irrational procedure adopted, this batch will be questioned at every stage in their life. It would be prudent to re-strategise and conduct the exams, keeping in mind the welfare of students in the long run.

Paulomi Jyoti,

Third year, Bethune College, Calcutta

Level playing field

School-leaving exams provide a level playing field for hundreds of thousands of students, a benchmark for admission to college. If cancelled, disparity in internal assessment in schools will lead to a dramatic inflation of cut-off marks and also corruption in college admissions. Coupled with pandemic-driven anxieties, this may worsen the epidemic of depression and suicides among students.

Dibya Rana Saha Roy,

Third year, University of Calcutta

Unemployment

It is on the basis of these exams that one is selected for a particular job. If the exams get cancelled, there is a high chance of increase in youth unemployment.

Ridhima Mittal,

Class XI, The Heritage School, Calcutta

Essential exam

School-leaving exams are the most essential exams in the 13 years of school life. The preparation for nearly two years comes to an end with this and the result is essential for admission to a good college. It is unfair to decide on the basis of the internal marks. That leaves students extremely unsure about admissions as the marks may not satisfy the high cut-off required.

Tamanna Hassan,

Class XII, Mahadevi Birla World Academy, Calcutta

No

Useless

A single board exam can hardly serve as the litmus test to gauge the intellectual abilities of a candidate. A thorough internal assessment carried out over the year will provide a better insight into the student’s potential. The school-leaving exams are an anachronism and it is time that our education system did away with them.

Soham Pathak,

Class XII, La Martiniere for Boys, Calcutta

Safety first

Although the school-leaving exams are a significant landmark in a student’s life, during a pandemic like this it is more important to stay safe. Normal exam procedures will help spread mass infection. On the other hand, online exams are not a good way to determine a student’s expertise. It is better to organise vivas or creative projects to test one’s conceptual understanding, after the pandemic subsides.

Shuvayan De,

First year, RKMVC College, Rahara