Students with no devices will be at a disadvantage: Kerala on online exams
NEW DELHI: Students with no access to laptops and mobile phones will be at a disadvantage if online examinations are held, the Kerala government told the Supreme Court in an affidavit, days after the top court stayed the state’s decision to hold physical examinations for Class 11 students while terming their Covid-19 situation “alarming”.
On Saturday, Kerala reported 20,487 new Covid-19 cases and 181 deaths, taking the state’s cumulative tally to 4,355,191. The toll in the state has reached 22,484. The test positivity rate – the number of samples that test positive – in the state stood at 15.19%%, according to Kerala health department data.
In its affidavit, filed on Saturday, APM Muhammad Hanish, principal secretary (Department of General Education) said: “The conduct of examination through online mode will prejudice a large number of students who have no access to laptops, desktops or even mobile phones. The students belonging to the lower strata of society are depending on mobile phones or tablets for attending online classes. In many areas, internet connection or mobile data are not available. These students will never be able to write online examinations.”
“The issue of lack of electronic gadgets to students could also be eliminated and a fair, equitable and transparent method of conducting examinations could be ensured, eliminating chances of any complaints,” the affidavit added.
On May 28, the state government announced that the Class 11 examinations will be held offline between September 6 and 27. The decision was challenged by advocate A Rasoolshan before the Kerala high court, which observed that conducting examination was a matter of government policy and no interference was warranted. Rasoolshan then moved the SC, stating that holding physical exams was a huge risk since children have not yet been vaccinated.
The top court issued a notice to the state and put the examination on hold till September 13, the next date of hearing.