Health ministry issues guidelines for exams at schools, colleges
NEW DELHI: Only educational institutions outside containment zones will be allowed to conduct examinations, according to the standard operating procedures released by the health ministry to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Staff and students living in containment zones will not be allowed to the examinations. In such cases, the students have to either be given the option of taking the exam through alternative means or sit for it at a later date.
Those with symptoms on the day of the exam will also not be allowed. They will be referred to the nearby health centres and will be allowed to take it at a later date. However, the guidelines state that in case a symptomatic student insists on giving the examination, all centres should have provision for an isolation room. The permission for giving exam in the isolation will be given as per protocols decided upon by the authority conducting the examination, the guidelines state.
As per the guidelines, invigilators will distribute the question paper and answersheets for written examinations only after sanitizing their hands. Students have also been asked to carry sanitisers and clean their hands before accepting and submitting the answersheets. “Use of spit or saliva for counting or distributing sheets shall not be allowed. Sharing of personal belongings or stationery shall not be allowed,” the guidelines read.
The institutions conducting examinations have also been asked to stagger the tests to prevent overcrowding and ensure social distancing. Staff who are old, pregnant or having medical conditions like diabetes and hypertension are recommended not to be deployed in the examination halls. They can be given duties that do not require interaction with students, the guidelines state.
Institutions may adopt contactless processes like QR code, online forms, digital signatures.
Delhi University’s (DU) dean of colleges, Balaram Pani, said that the varsity is already taking all measures to ensure safety and security of students during exam. DU is set to start the second phase of exams from September 14 where students can either be physically present in colleges to write the exam or take them online. “We are selecting colleges that are outside the containment zones. We have already asked the students who are willing to take the exam if they are living in a containment zone. If so, they can opt for the online option,” he said.