Plea to put off JEE as Covid tests resolve

Plea to put off JEE as Covid tests resolve

TWIN FEARS: Losing A Year, Catching Infection

Shradha.Chettri@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: 29.06.2020

Dilshad Khan had dropped a year in 2019 hoping to make it to one of the IITs in 2020. He prepared well the entire year to get a good score in the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). But then the lockdown due to Covid-19 started and the exam was rescheduled to be held from July 18 to 27. Now, when the exams are nearing, Khan says he is fearful about writing exams at a centre amid rising novel coronavirus cases.

“I have invested a lot of time in preparing for the JEE but right now, I am mentally stressed and cannot concentrate on studies. I can’t even afford to lose another year. We students request the authorities concerned to postpone the exam till the Covid-19 cases stop rising,” said Khan who lives in Gurgaon.

National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the JEE (Main) for admissions into the engineering colleges. It is also a qualifying exam for admissions into IITs. Students who crack JEE (Main) become eligible to appear for JEE Advanced. The JEE (Main) was earlier scheduled to be held in April.

“If CBSE, UPSC, CTET exams can be cancelled and postponed, can’t they postpone our exams by a month more. The MHRD should release a statement clarifying the status. Also, JEE is a fully computer-based test. From thumb impression to keyboard, everywhere we have touch systems. And who is going to manage the large crowd outside the examination centre?” questioned Sajid Nazir, another IIT aspirant.

A parent whose child is supposed to appear for the exams also questioned the delay of the authorities concerned in announcing changes.

“When it involves future of lakhs of students, why does the government have to wait for the last minute. They are well aware of the situation. Lack of clarity on the exam dates is adding to the anxiety among students,” said Samarth Mathur, whose son wants to study computer science at any of the IITs.

These students have also taken to social media and petitioned HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank urging him to take a quick decision.

“What if one of the aspirants is Covid positive? How is NTA and the government going to check from which area students are coming to write the exam. It is about each one’s future and no one will want to miss the exam. But holding exams in present times will put health of lakhs of students at risk,” said Udit Mishra, another aspirant.

According to NTA authorities, there will be a review of the situation based on which exam-related decisions will be taken.

DESPERATE TIMES, DESPERATE MEASURES

A STUDENT SAYS

I have invested a lot of time in preparing for JEE but right now, I am stressed and cannot concentrate on studies. I can’t afford to lose another year