At a time when the Centre and States/UTs are evolving a slew of measures aimed at preventing, containing and managing the recent surge in COVID cases across India, the recent decision to postpone this year’s public exams of Class 12 and cancel Class 10 exams has generated mixed reactions.
 
The Indian educational system, the second largest in the world after China, has over 240 million students and 8.5 million teachers across primary, upper primary, secondary and senior secondary stages in about 15 lakh schools. A majority of schools are under the jurisdiction of State Governments and their Boards except those affiliated to the Union Government controlled Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the privately held national-level board - the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CICSE). CBSE, which has over 21,271 schools in India and 228 schools in 25 foreign countries affiliated to it is mostly preferred as it is easy for those on transferable jobs to get their children enrolled in CBSE schools. The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), which caters to the needs of learners up to pre-degree level is the largest Open Schooling system in the world. With a cumulative enrollment of 4.13 million (during the last 5 years), NIOS operates through a network of 7500 Study Centres.
 
Ever since schools and colleges were closed rather abruptly amidst rising cases of COVID in March last year, the education sector has been facing unprecedented challenges. Notably, the CBSE Class 10 and 12 exams which were progressing had to be called off. Finding no respite from the pandemic, the CBSE put in place an alternate marking system, wherein the average of best of three papers (for students who appeared in four exams)/best of two (for those who appeared in three exams)/or an internal assessment for those who took two or fewer exams was considered. CBSE also gave an option only for Class 12 students to appear in online compartment exams along with optional improvement exams thereafter.
 
Now why have exams, many seem to argue. But there are others who view exams and good assessment deepen learning as well as provide a balanced and fair evaluation of each student. Be it as it may. Many schools focus on short-cycle formative assessments and monitor progress of students throughout the academic year.
 
Following phased unlock, Class 10 and 12 students briefly attended schools this January. By February date sheets were announced and CBSE exams were to commence from 4 May.  With nearly 3.5 million students slated to give exams for Class 10 and 12 put together, as a precautionary measure to prevent overcrowding, CBSE planned for staggered seating arrangements spread in two shifts across  7500 centres in the country and abroad. But then came the second wave of rising COVID infections in April when CBSE decided to postpone Class 12 exams and cancel the Class 10 exams. Most of the other State Boards including CICSE seem to have followed the CBSE examination route.
 
The move is laudable as over one crore students are said to appear every year for Class 10 and 12 public examinations, commonly known as Board exams. Apart from students, there would be a sizable number of functionaries involved in the conduct of Board exams.
 
For a moment let us forget exams and focus on COVID which has been spreading so dangerously and playing havoc with our lives. The outcome of a recent epidemiological survey conducted in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, as reports seem to suggest, found that the spread of the pandemic in the country may have been triggered by super-spreaders. On studying the COVID transmission patterns in 575,071 individuals exposed to 84,965 confirmed cases of the virus, it found that not all infected individuals transmitted it. Notably, 8 percent of individuals with COVID infections accounted for 60 per cent of new infections. A prospective follow-up testing of exposed contacts revealed that 70 per cent of infected individuals did not infect any of their contacts.
 
This also corroborates with other studies that seem to suggest that where people congregate, there is the infection risk and crowded indoor spaces are prime spots for superspreading events, in which one person passes the virus to many others. This has been reported in all sorts of places from bars and barbecues, gyms and factories, schools and churches and even on ships. Last year a 35-year old woman in South Korea, unknowingly infected with COVID, attended two church services and her presence in turn infected some 5,000 people with the virus. She is said to have developed COVID symptoms in between the two visits, including a high fever, but by the time she got tested and results came, it was rather too late. Similarly, last February, during a Boston-based pharmaceutical company’s two-day business conference, initially 90 participants became infected with COVID but the virus had spread further through their contacts. Roughly 20,000 infections in Boston and surrounding areas could be traced to the conference. So, closed spaces with poor ventilation, crowds, and close contact settings, shouting, singing and heavy breathing all seem to increase the risk of superspreading.
 
Now back to the topic on examinations. Due to the sheer number of people involved in examinations, the huge exercise can pose avoidable risks to all at a time when COVID cases are reportedly on the increase. One key strategy is to eliminate the conditions that favour superspreading. Dr NK Arora, chairman of the Government’s COVID-19 working group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, according to media reports, suggests contact between people has to be reduced at the micro level in order to bring down the spread of the virus. So putting off all exams would be the most prudent thing and it needs to be appreciated that prevention is better than lockdown - even as our fight against the virus continues.
 
True, doctors and hospitals undoubtedly provide the best care even under stressful conditions. But if one is reckless, their life is not guaranteed. Inculcating the simplest form of behaviour is in the hands of every individual. Yes, there is an imperative need to see the writing on the wall, which is crystal clear. Covid appropriate behaviour - a proper mask worn the right way, maintaining six feet of distance between one and other and frequently washing of hands – is the only shield that humans have  against the virus and vaccination is the only weapon to reach herd immunity.
 
Because the world is dealing with a virus that is new (even though a year old) and said to be constantly mutating, this pandemic has to be taken seriously and students need to be safe but stay connected in the community. Education may get disrupted, but it is worth it to take all precautions to keep COVID at bay.