CBSE schools in the city are flummoxed over the instruction from its regional office to send at least 30 students each to attend a programme, to be addressed by Union human resource development minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, on the eve of board exams.

A letter from the CBSE’s regional office here said Pokhriyal will attend a programme at Srimanta Sankaradeva International Auditorium at Panjabari here on Friday called Pariksha pe Charcha (discussion on exams). It asked the schools to send students “including a few board’s 2020 appearing examinees” for the programme.

Both class X and class XII exams of the CBSE will begin from Saturday.

“We are very surprised to receive the letter. How can we ask the students to attend a programme on the eve of the exams?” asked a principal.

According to the instructions, the students have to be seated at the venue an hour ahead of the hourlong meeting from 3pm. “A student will have to spend at least five to six hours just before the exam for the meeting, including travel time,” the principal said.

The letter said Pokhriyal will “share the live experiences to reduce the stress of students” in order to provide “stress-free atmosphere to students of our region”.

When contacted, CBSE regional director K.K. Choudhury said there are only 20 students who will appear for the class XII exams at one centre here on Saturday. “Besides, we have requested the schools not to bring class XII students,” he said, adding the programme will have no adverse impact on the students.