Results delayed, evaluation unfair, claim students
MUMBAI/THANE: After waiting impatiently for five hours, 16-year-old Chaitanya Katkar received his result at around 5.30pm. He scored 99.20% — the second-highest in his school, Balmohan Vidyamandir, Dadar.
An anxious Katkar, who was unable to log in, reached the school around 3pm and had to wait for two-and-a-half hours before finally knowing his result.
“Our exams were postponed twice and the evaluation was done based on our previous test performances. More than CET and the results, I feel that it was unfair that despite working hard, we were assessed based on our last academic year’s performance as well,” said Katkar, who wants to pursue science to study engineering. “I have started preparations for the forthcoming tests and admission process as well,” he said.
After facing uncertainty throughout the academic year and the cancellation of SSC board exams, Friday’s results attracted mixed reactions from students. Faced with a delay in getting results, students, principals and parents were both anxious and worried about the ambiguity related to students’ future, given the current situation. For Reyansh Dutta, 15, including Class 9 marks in the evaluation was a disappointment. “I had worked very hard this year and was confident of scoring above 90% if the exams were conducted the regular way,” said Dutta who scored 84%. Parents also feel that students could have performed better if not for the uncertainties related to the evaluation process. “They (board) have included Class 9 marks as well. However, this batch did not appear for final exams in Class 9 due to the pandemic. This is bit unfair, but owing to the current scenario there was no other option,” said Shriram Samant, father of 15-year-old Chinmayee from Sane Guruji Vidyalaya English Medium School, Shivaji Park, Dadar who scored 80%. Samant added, “However, instead of postponing the exam schedule time and again, they could have taken a decision earlier and not make the students anxious and stressful.”
Rupa Roy, principal, Balmohan Vidyamandir, Dadar, said, “Students have worked extra hard but despite that, evaluating last year’s performance as well is unfair. Moreover, just when the students expected things to settle with the results, the website crashed; it just seems that their waiting period is endless.”
“It is the onus of the school on how they are preparing the students for external exams as they have to appear for entrance tests,” said Kshama Valanjoo, assistant headmistress, VPM Vidyamandir, Dahisar.