The state education department of Goa has directed all the higher secondary schools and junior colleges to hold the examinations for students of classes 9 and 11 in online mode. This decision has been taken in view of the rise in Covid-19 cases across the state.

Before announcing the online exams for students of classes 9 and 11, the state education department had earlier announced that examinations for students of Class 1 to 8 would be held online and they can appear for the test from home.

The circular has been issued to all the higher secondary schools in the state, which were gearing up to hold offline exams for the students from this week. Students and parents were raising their voices against the conduction of offline exams during the current situation.

Exams from home for school students

Due to the current Covid-19 situation in Goa and across the country, the state education department has given students the liberty to appear for the annual examinations from their homes this year. This will reduce the number of students appearing for offline exams.

“It is informed that the examinations for Standard ninth and eleventh should be conducted by allowing students to answer from their residences, in the same way, the students up to standard eight have been allowed,” the circular issued by the education department reads.

The students of classes 10 and 12 will have to appear for their board exams in offline mode as per the official schedule. Students across the country are pushing for the conduction of online exams during the pandemic, but the state boards have not issued any statement yet.

The Covid-19 caseload of Goa rose by 482 to touch 61,239 on Friday. There were 3,597 active cases till Friday night. The government is taking several precautionary measures to control the spread of the virus in Goa.