Two city schools announced dates for pre-board exams in a notice sent to parents of class X and XII students on Saturday, but did not specify the mode of exams in the

absence of any directive from the state government on bringing students back to campus.

St Xavier’s Collegiate School and Loreto House have sent notices to classes X and XII with dates for pre-board exams “to keep them prepared”.

A notice from the principal of Loreto House to the parents says: “Keeping in mind the present unprecedented situation, the Pre-Board Examination could either be online or physical. The possibility for a (physical) examination in school will be notified to you closer to the Pre-Board Examinations.”

St Xavier’s Collegiate School has also announced the dates without specifying whether the exams will be online or on-campus, the school’s principal said.

Some others schools, too, want to hold pre-board exams on the campus but are waiting for the government’s nod to make a formal announcement.

If allowed, this will be the first exam that the board examinees will write in school this academic year.

Since board exams will be pen-and-paper, several schools are keen on conduc-ting the pre-boards on campus.

All campuses have been shut since March last year as a precaution against Covid.

“We are waiting for the directive from the state government to allow classes on campus. Teachers and also a large section of students want to come to the school because they need the practice for two or three hours of writing to be well-prepared for the board exams,” said Loreto House principal Aruna Gomes.

“But we are ready either way, online or offline,” she said.

Father M. Thamacin Arulappan, principal of St Xavier’s Collegiate School, has announced the dates to “prepare students well in advance”.

“We have not said anything regarding how the pre-boards will be conducted. If we get any confirmation (from the government), we can have it in school and in that case, the connectivity and uploading issues can be avoided. But the only concern will be of the coronavirus and that has to be taken into account,” said Father Arulappan.

The uncertainty regarding the reopening of campuses has landed schools in a “fix” and some school heads said it is difficult for them to plan the exam schedule.

St James’ School and Calcutta Girls’ High School plan to hold pre-boards for classes X and XII on campus.

“We will be able to conduct the exams by maintaining proper distance because all other classrooms are empty and can be used,” said Basanti Biswas, the principal of Calcutta Girls’.

“We would want to call the students of classes IX and XI also for on-campus exams but haven’t yet decided because we are waiting for a clearer picture,” she said.

St James’ School that had initially planned to call classes IX and XI might not do so anymore.

“We have planned the pre-board for X and XII in the middle of March subject to permission from the government,” said principal Terence Ireland.

“It will be difficult to call the IX and XI students around that time and then begin the session by mid-April,” he said.