WHAT ABOUT OTHER EXAMS?

Some cancelled, others will be part of ‘live’ online sessions

A majority of schools in the UAE have decided to cancel their ongoing internal examinations owing to the early spring break enforced by the Ministry of Education. While some schools decided to carry out the examinations through live online sessions, others opted to stick to the original schedule.

At the Indian High School, internal examinations have been cancelled and students will be graded on the basis of their overall performance in their academic year.

The GEMS United Indian School have also issued a cancellation notice for tests scheduled on Sunday for Grades 1 to 8 students. “The year-long performance of students will be taken into consideration for promotion,” it said in a circular sent to parents.

Online route

Other campuses, however, are taking the online route.

Mick Gernon, chief education innovation officer at GEMS Education, said: “Our focus on examination groups, intervention and revision sessions, completion of coursework, and internal assessments will continue as planned and facilitated through live online sessions between students and their teachers.”

Amol Vaidya, senior director operations at the Global Indian International School, said they will also be administering some tests through smart platforms starting next week.

“We are planning to conduct online tests from next week. In case there are challenges faced on this front, students shall be promoted to the next grade based on previous assessments,” Vaidya said.

“The student achievement data from three assessments are good enough to indicate students’ progress,” he added.

No change in Sharjah, Ajman

In Sharjah, though spring break will start early for all campuses, year-end exams for Indian and Pakistani-curriculum schools will remain as scheduled, the emirate’s private education authority has announced.

The Sharjah Private Education Authority confirmed that final tests for these schools will push through “on condition that students will perform their examinations and return home once they’re done”.

EP Johnson, president of Indian Association in Sharjah, pointed out that internal examinations at the Sharjah Indian School will be held until March 11, after which it will be closed.

In Ajman, Consulate-General of India to Dubai Vipul confirmed that Indian school examinations will also go ahead as scheduled.