A number of school heads have sought clarifications from the higher secondary council on whether they could reopen campuses for practical classes to “impart the bare minimum hands-on training” ahead of the HS exams in March.

The move comes in the wake of frantic calls from students concerned about how they will take the HS practical tests, set to start on March 10, without any class having been held in the current academic year because of the Covid pandemic.

All that the students have had since March, when campuses shut down as a precaution against Covid, are virtual classes on theory papers.

The West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education had announced the exam dates in December and the topics to be covered by the practical papers on January 18. But it is yet to clarify when campuses can reopen, leaving examinees as well as school heads worried.

Parimal Bhattacharya, the headmaster of Jadavpur Vidyapith, said they were ready with a plan to reopen the institution for practical classes, but could not proceed in the absence of clarity.

“I will get in touch with the council this week seeking to know whether we are free to reopen the school. Until the council gives the go-ahead, we cannot execute our plans,” said Bhattacharya.

A teacher of the school said they had prepared a plan on how classes could be held from February, but it could not be implemented without the council’s approval.

Kazi Masum Akhtar, the headmaster of Katjunagar Swarnamayee Vidyapith in Jadavpur, said he would visit the council’s office on Thursday to find out whether the campus could be reopened for classes.

“Students and guardians are requesting me to resume practical classes. I will visit the council's office on Thursday and ask officials whether I can do so,” he told Metro.

When the president of the HS council, Mahua Das, was told on Wednesday about the schools seeking clarification, she said: “The council does not have anything to add to what has been stated in the notice.”

An official of the council said they could not say anything beyond that until the department gave the go-ahead.

Repeated calls to education minister Partha Chatterjee and the school education secretary, Manish Jain, went unanswered.

Sources in the department said they were aware about the situation and were in constant touch with Nabanna on what could be done. “The decision on this issue has to be taken at the highest level because the health of students and teachers is at stake,” said a source.

This newspaper had last week reported several schools affiliated to other boards were ready with their calendars for on-site rehearsal exams, but were yet to announce the dates because the state government had not given its nod.

Minister’s meeting

Education minister Chatterjee will meet state university vice-chancellors on February 3 to discuss whether colleges and universities can be reopened, an official in the education department said.

The official said the issue of reopening campuses only for practical classes could be taken up at the meeting.