After the gloomy times of pandemic, Back to Real Time Board Exams

Arijit Bose

It is finally that part of the year when students seal their fate with their performance in board exams. This year finally things are happening when the country is seemingly at ease with regards to COVID.

Exam Blues back in action

For the first time the pandemic looks somewhat under control. However the authorities are not lowering their guard.  The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has released the ICSE, ISC Semester-II Exam 2022 dates. The board exams for both class 10 and class 12 students started from April 25 and April 26.

During the examination, students will have to follow the COVID protocol. The Council had already issued instructions in this regard.

For ICSE Semester-II examinations, there are more than 108 examination centers in Lucknow. Around 18,000 students will be involved in these. To appear in the examination, the students will have to carry hand sanitizer wearing a mask, following the rules of Covid.

Indian School Certificate (ISC) 12th Semester-2 examinations started from 26 April. About 14 thousand candidates will appear in this examination to be held at about 108 centers. To appear in the examination, students will have to follow the Covid rules. Also, it will be mandatory to wear a mask and bring hand sanitizer.

COVID checks and balances continue

During the examination, students will have to maintain social distance from the main school gate to the examination hall. Apart from this, the entrance or exit gates from the examination hall have been prepared in different ways to avoid overcrowding. Students have to bring their own writing material and avoid sharing it with other candidates.

Similarly the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued directions to the board examination centres to make proper arrangements in the wake of the current Covid situation and the heatwave. The CBSE Class 10 and 12 board exams for the second term began in the country and abroad after two years of pandemic-induced disruptions.

The board paid Rs 5,000 fixed and Rs 5 per candidate per day for the examination day to make proper arrangements to avoid spread of COVID.

The CBSE has also decided to pay Rs 2 per candidate per day for making available potable water, hence proper arrangements for drinking water may be made at the examination centre. In the ongoing board exams, the number of students permitted in each classroom has been capped at 18 and schools have been asked to provide separate rooms to students suffering from COVID-19.

The Class 10 board exams are being conducted at 7,406 centres while the Class 12 board exams are being held at 6,720 exam centres.

Heatwave another painful experience

Not just the pandemic, even the unbearable heatwave causes much discomfort. Large parts of India reels under a punishing heatwave, with temperatures nearing 45-degree mark at several places. The heatwave is predicted to turn deadlier.  Students are taking extra care to keep themselves covered.

New Age Grading being enforced

In the meantime, Uttar Pradesh Higher Education Department has decided to start grading system in graduate courses. Reportedly a new system is being implemented to reduce stress among students. Grades will now be given to students in BA, BSc, BCom. Apart from this, grace marks will also not be given in the exam from now on.

LU prepares for admission season

So what after clearing the board ? The admission process in the graduation class for the new session in Lucknow University has started from April 2. Now the admission process for Masters (PG) and Masters Management classes started from April 11. Candidates will have a chance to apply till June 10. Its detailed instructions will be available on the admission page of the university’s website www.lkouniv.ac.in.

Admission Coordinator Professor Pankaj Mathur is quoted saying that the application fee will be Rs 1000 for General and Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Rs 500 for SC-ST and Physical Handicap category in post-graduate courses. For applying for B.El.Ed, Rs.1600 for General and OBC and Rs.800 for SC/ST and Physical Handicap category. General category applicants who want to take advantage of Economically Weaker Section (EWS) reservation will have to upload its documents at the time of application.

Details of course wise seats have been sought from all the heads of departments. Its information has been collected. Soon the information related to the course wise seats and admission process was released on the website.

According to the information released by the university, online applications are being taken from April 11 to June 10. The entrance examination for admission to the postgraduate class will be held from July 1 to 10 and the result of the entrance examination will be released by July 20. According to the merit, the first phase counseling of the candidates can start from July 30.

Bouquet of academic Institutions open to teach the willing

For future studies in higher education there are a plethora of opportunities in the city including – University of Lucknow, King George’s Medical University, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Integral University, Babu Banarasi Das University, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Dr. Shakuntala Misra Rehabilitation University, Era University, Bhatkhande Music Institute, Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Urdu, Arabi-Farsi University, Rajat Degree College, Lucknow, Isabella Thoburn College, Lucknow, Modern Girls College of Professional Studies, Lucknow, Eram Girls Degree College, Indira Nagar, GSRM Memorial PG College, Lucknow, Amity University, Lucknow Campus, Lucknow Christian College, Lucknow, Shri Guru Nanak Girls Degree College, Lucknow, National P.G.College, TS Misra Medical College and Hospital, Lucknow, Career Convent Girls College, Lucknow, Karamat Husain Muslim Girls PG College, Lucknow, Shri Jai Narain Misra Post Graduate College, Lucknow, Heeralal Yadav Balika PG College, Lucknow, Techno Institute of Higher Studies, Lucknow among others.