Fearing corona spread, Odisha teachers demand home evaluation of matric exam answer-papers

Fearing coronavirus spread school teachers in Odisha on Wednesday proposed reforms for evaluation of matric examination answer-papers scheduled to resume from May 20 and sought to carry out evaluation work from home.

The teachers under the aegis of Odisha Secondary School Teachers'Association (OSSTA) proposed School and Mass Education department to allow home evaluation in line with the decision taken by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to maintain social distancing and check spread of the virus. General Secretary of the Association Prakash Chandra Mohanty said with more around 23,000 teachers will be engaged for evaluation work, maintaining social distancing to keep the COVID-19 pandemic at bay is a major challenge which is not possible if it is carried out in the 60 valuation centres finalised. "Home evaluation will be the most suitable option in this crisis situation," Mohaty said.

Apart from the issue of social distancing there are other issues involved he said and added that as transportation has been restricted and hotels have been closed, it will be very difficult for the teachers, of whom around 35 to 40 per cent are women, to avail transportation and accommodation. Besides, he said, if one person is tested positive at any centre, the government will have to close the centre and send its teachers in home quarantine. "The issues, however, can also be addressed easily if evaluation work from home is allowed."The members of the body said that in case the government doesn't allow home quarantine, the government should set up one examination centre for every two blocks to ensure that a teacher doesn't have to face hurdles in reaching the examination centre and returning back. They said that if these reforms are not included, it would be difficult for them to cooperate with the state government in the evaluation duty.