In-person exams for students of classes IX to XII have laid bare the learning gaps, underpreparedness and anxiety of students, who were used to online education, say teachers.
The performance of many students has deteriorated and at least one principal said it was true even for toppers.
Some of them are getting confused or turning up prepared to write a paper that is not scheduled for the day, which psychiatrists describe as underpreparedness leading to anxiety and panic attacks.
Incomplete answer scripts, sketchy answers or even blank pages have teachers worried.
In one school, almost all students in a Class XII section scored less than 50 per cent in economics.
In another school, some students failed to follow instructions and did not answer the adequate number of questions in each section.
In a third school, teachers noticed that students forgot the format of writing an answer.
Many schools are conducting in-person exams for students of classes IX to XII.
“Students’ preparation is incomplete and they have to go a long way. Teachers gave them notes and test papers were solved, yet they are leaving questions unattempted,” said Jessica Gomes Surana, principal of Loreto Convent, Entally.
“This is across groups and even the good ones have to wake up and reach their full potential,” she said.
“The marks are showing learning gaps. In a class there are always students who are academically weak but not in such large numbers,” said Amita Prasad, director of Indus Valley World School.
“The anxiety of appearing in a physical exam is manifested in various ways. Some students are confusing the datesheet and coming prepared to write another subject. When they realise that, they panic,” said Anjana Saha, principal of Mahadevi Birla World Academy.
Teachers said students who have the potential to score pass marks are failing to do so.
Psychiatrists said carelessness and underpreparedness were leading to more anxiety among students.
“The reopening of school has coincided with exams and that is leading to anxiety among students. I have had some students reporting directly after school with complaints of panic attacks after the in-person exams were announced,” said psychiatrist Praveen Kumar.
Psychiatrist Jai Ranjan Ram said the developments highlighted how students had fallen out of practice of following the school routine and decorum.
“This highlights the fact that attending school in a school is different from being educated at home and one has to be emotionally and mentally prepared for it also,” said Ram.
Souvik Jati, academic coordinator of classes IX and X at The Heritage School, said students now had to get up early in the morning and prepare for school.
“The routine is different now. Also, there used to be a break during an online test because of internet connectivity, which is not there now," said Jati.
“But we have given a few days' gap between exams so students can prepare better.”