Schools not affected by flood to continue with HS 1st year exam: AHSEC issues “confusing” notification

May 25: Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) in a notification issued on 17 May, 2022 “suspended the ongoing HS First Year Examinations to be held between 18 May to 21 May, 2022 due to prevailing inclement weather and in view of damages being caused by the natural calamities in the state.”

However, on 25 May, in a notification issued by Pankaj Borthakur, Controller of Examinations, AHSEC it was stated that the remaining examinations will be conducted in those schools which are not affected by flood. In the notification, it was stated, “Whereas, information are being received from some of the Head of the Institutions of the state regarding setting up of flood relief camps in their institutions and informed that conduct of the remaining examinations of H S 1″ year would not be possible in their institutions. Besides, whereas some of the Head of the Institutions informed that the area covered by their institutions are not affected by the flood and they are fully prepared for conduction of the remaining examinations of H S 1″ year.”

It is in this backdrop that AHSEC notified that the Head of those institutions where flood relief camps are set up may make alternative arrangement for conduction of the said examinations, if possible. Otherwise, such Head of the institutions will submit report to AHSEC with justification regarding their inability to conduct the examinations for further necessary instructions from the AHSEC.

“The Head of those institutions which are not affected by flood will proceed to conduct the said examinations as per schedule communicated earlier. Further, a separate notification with regard to the suspended earlier examinations (i,e. 20th and 21st of May, 2022) will be issued in due course of time,” stated the Controller of Examinations of AHSEC.

Meanwhile, many teachers, students and other stakeholders have expressed surprise regarding this new notification and stated it to be “utterly misleading and confusing.” Unwilling to be named, an officer of the Education Department in Cachar said, “Such an order which is full of contradiction is very difficult to implement and act upon. The AHSEC has exhibited lack of maturity in drafting such a notification. They ought to have been more serious in handling such a situation.” They pointed out that even there are schools unaffected by the floods, but the students studying there are in severe flood affected areas.