Respected Sir/Madam,

I am writing this as the parent of a student who is writing the Class XII board exams. I would like to bring to the attention of the honorable HRD ministry and education boards like CBSE, ICSE, State PUC boards a potential issue that can effect the future of many aspiring students.

I appreciate the herculean tasks govt. has undertaken to contain the virus. We should follow the government guidelines for lockdown and adhere to the rules in red/orange/containment zones to prevent the spread of the COVID pandemic. However, with the lifting of curbs in many places and strict lockdown in a few containment zones, there is a challenge when the postponed board exams and entrance exams are conducted. As per my current understanding, only emergency services like medical are allowed in contained zones. I am not sure whether there is an explicit statement/order regarding students enrolled for board or entrance exams. 

The entrance exams and board exams are likely to get scheduled when the overall COVID statistics are better in the country. The question is how will children in containment zones write board exams and other entrance exams. If they miss out, they will lose an year and in some cases, the chances for getting admission in premier colleges will be lost forever. This is a sad situation, and it will be very difficult to explain to local police or administration and seek permissions to write the exams unless there is a formal govt. order. The children in containment zones shall not miss out any of the entrance or board exams they are enrolled for writing this year. Also there should provisions to have exam halls that have sufficient isolation for the children in such containment zones. 

Hence, I request the HRD ministry to pass a formal order allowing permission for students in containment zones to write board and entrance exams, by providing a special pass in addition to the hall ticket. This special pass should be accepted by police and local administration. I also request the exam boards to ensure separate halls in the exam centres, for students from containment zones.  

Please treat this as an urgent issue and support this so that we bring this to the notice of the HRD ministry and state governments. 

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely, 

Santosh Narayanan