Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, May 26: Several leading personalities including the former chairman of Kannada Development Authority Prof G Siddaramaiah have urged chief minister (CM) B S Yediyurappa, to cancel SSLC examinations this year in the light of grave coronavirus situation in the state compounded by the increasing number of such cases.

A letter containing signatures of eminent leaders of about 15 different organizations in Karnataka was sent to CM Yediyurappa. The letter echoes the fear among the parents about sending their children to SSLC examination centres. They want to know whether conducting SSLC examinations under such circumstances is unavoidable and whether it is that much important. The letter also contains questions like whether holding an examination is proper and if it is pertinent to hold the examination at this juncture. Further, the holding of the SSLC examination is more important than the lives of the students.

Estimated 8.5 lac students will be appearing for this examination and 2 lac staff have been deployed for the purpose. The letter warns that even if one of the staff is infected, coronavirus infection will spread to all others. It has cautioned that subjecting so many children to thermal scanning before appearing for the examination in itself is a challenging job. The dignitaries also warned that there could be a situation in which students suffering from fever may consume medicine and appear for the examination with other children.

Educationist V P Niranjanaradhya noted that those who are directly involved with the examination are bogged down by the fear of getting the infection. The families are worried about what could happen. Officials in the education department also are facing the same tension and pressure. He wanted to know whether the holding of the examination is important.

Many want the chief minister to instruct the education department not to hold the examination as containment zones are located in all the districts except Chamarajanagar. All India Student Federation, Primary Teachers Federation, Karnataka State Retired Education Officers Forum, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene, Karnataka Dalit Sangharsha Samiti and Karnataka Vidyarthi Sangha are among the organizations that have signed the letter.