Bengaluru: As many as eight lakh anxious students are writing the SSLC examination, starting from today, June 25 across the state and Karnataka Primary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar visited an examination centre in Bengaluru on Thursday morning.
The state took a decision to conduct the examinations even as the state is consistently witnessing spike in cases of Corona Virus. The decision had exposed the government to widespread criticism as many said that 8,48,203 students are being made vulnerable to COVID-19 due to the decision of the government.
A criminal miscellaneous petition has been filed against Minister Kumar seeking registration of an FIR against him for conducting the exams amid the outbreak.
However, the government has made extensive arrangements to make sure that the students safely write the examination and on Wednesday parents and children were seen outside examination centres to assess the safety measures in place as the SSLC exams will be conducted over 10 days in 2,879 centres in the state.
An additional 330 centres have been opened so that students from containment zones and those with symptoms can appear for examination separately.
Social distancing measure, thermal screening have been put in place at the centres. Students must mandatorily wear a mask throughout the examination, bring their own water bottles and have been asked to report as early as at 7.30am to ensure distancing. Exam began at 10.30am.
Neighbouring states like Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have cancelled their board exams.
Initially scheduled to be held in March, the exams were given a go-ahead by the high court and the Supreme Court and will continue till July 5.
