Education Minister Adimulapu Suresh on Wednesday instructed department officials and staff to strictly adhere to COVID-19 guidelines and to make arrangements for mid-term exams scheduled from May 5.
In a video conference attended by joint collectors, regional interim officials, district education officials and other officials, the minister said the decision to continue the exam was made with the future of the students in mind.
The practical exams had already been completed. For the theory exam, a total of 10,32,469 students would now appear for the exam at 1,452 state examination centers. 5.12959 of these are from the first year, while 5.19.510 are from the second year. A COVID protocol officer would be set up at each exam center, and each center would have a separate room for students who experience symptoms of the viral infection.
The minister said the hall maps would be uploaded by Thursday evening and the back of the hall map had COVID norms that students should religiously follow.
He said people should understand the importance of intermediate exams in a student’s academic life. No state canceled the exam, while some states only postponed it, he said.
He criticized the opposition parties for trying to mislead students and their parents by creating a “fear psychosis”.
The minister instructed officials to make detailed arrangements for the exams to run smoothly, without the need for students or parents to worry.
Main Secretary B. Rajasekhar and Commissioner of the Board of Intermediate Education Ramakrishna were present.