Pune August 13: State education minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said shortage of attendance will not be an issue for those students who cannot attend school owing to swine flu. The education department has also decided to cancel all unit tests that were to be conducted in the first term. The government is also likely to extend holidays for city schools.
“If a student remains absent owing to swine flu, his/her absence will be condoned. This decision will be applicable for the whole academic year,” Vikhe- Patil told Newsline. He also said that further extension of the seven-day closure of schools in Pune, with the situation getting worse, may not be a bad idea. However, no official decision has been taken yet on the issue.
“The students, however, will have to submit a certificate to the school and the school, in turn, will have to submit it to the education department. There will not be any excuse for absenteeism owing to any other reason.”
Vikhe-Patil also declared that all unit tests in the first term would be cancelled. “The decision will be applicable to all SSC as well as CBSE, ICSE, IB and other board schools across the state. The decision follows demand from parents.”
The decision to condone absence following illness has been welcomed in the academic circles. “It is a good decision as the health of students is more important than anything else.
In fact, we have already given written permission to parents for not sending their wards in case of illness,” said Preeti Desai, principal of Jyotirmay International School, affiliated to International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).
“Cancellation of unit tests will not hamper assessment as we regularly assess students on the basis of homework and class assignments.”
Madhura Kulkarni, principal of NMV Girls’ High School, also welcomed the decision. However, she had a different take on cancelling the unit tests. “In case of SSC students, the internal marks of unit tests, first term end exam and prelim exam are considered for the final assessment. The government needs to come up with some new formula.”
Vikhe- Patil said the government has taken these issues into consideration. “We have asked the State Council for Educational Research and Training and the SSC Board — the two entities that decide on the framework of assessment for class I to class VIII and class IX to class X respectively — to come up with alternative plans.”
–Agencies