The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) on Monday requested the state government to ensure that students don’t lose their academic year if the lockdown gets extended beyond May 3.

The AASU also demanded that the government mull ways to provide education to those who don’t have access to online classes, especially in the remote areas.

AASU chief adviser Samujjal Bhattacharjya said, “The students of Assam must not lose an academic year. The system of imparting education through the online process should continue but, at the same time, steps should be taken for those students who don’t have access to the facility.”

The Secondary Education Board of Assam (Seba) has been conducting online classes for class X students from early this month while the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) started online classes for class XII students through YouTube on Friday. However, Internet connectivity and access to smartphones by students in the rural areas have posed a major hurdle.

The AASU also suggested withdrawal of summer vacation this year. “However, in case of adverse climatic conditions, a decision can be taken depending upon the situation. Saturdays should be treated as full working days. For this year, the government should curtail holidays to the maximum extent possible to accommodate loss of days during the lockdown,” Bhattacharjya said.

Making an array of suggestions, he said the government should relax the existing policy of completing syllabus this academic year.

The Seba is yet to take a final call on declaring the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) and Assam High Madrassa (AHM) examination results. It has already cancelled unit tests for class X students this year. Instead, it has decided to conduct online assignment tests in mathematics and science of 25 marks for these students. The online assignment tests will be considered unit tests.

The AHSEC has decided to allow all class XI students studying in institutions affiliated to it to be promoted to class XII without a final examination. With this, around 2.31 lakh students in Assam will be able to appear for class XII state board examination next year without passing their class XI exam.

Earlier, education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said that the state education department was considering contingency plans in consultation with experts to ensure that students don’t lose out on an academic year in case the lockdown is extended.

“The state education department believes that it can compensate for the loss of days until the end of May. But beyond that period, it will be difficult to adjust,” Sarma had said.