Parents have said that the baseline tests to be held on April 5 and 6 is causing too much stress to their children as it is coinciding with the annual exams that are underway and will continue till April 13 or 15. The schools have said that they have rescheduled exams slated to be held on those days and will not be a problem.
According to the principal of a school in Bandra, the second Baseline Test for class V to VIII students is to be held on April 5 and 6 for the English and Maths subjects. “The first baseline test held last year comprised of syllabus taught in the first term only, the second test will however be based on the curriculum of both the first and second term. The marks obtained by the students in the second baseline test will be included in the final marks of the subjects,” said the principal.
Parents have however aired concerns that children having to study the entire years syllabus along with that of second term will pose a huge problem and contribute to added stress among them. “Exam time is very stressful for the students and additional tests in the middle of the regular exams would only add to the burden on the students. The government should have scheduled the tests either before or after the school exams to ensure that the students do not face any problem,” said Jude Amaral, a parent.
Another parent M Nanjee said, “The decision to add the marks of the baseline tests to the final marks has put most parents in a spot of bother. The syllabus for the second term is extensive in addition to which children have to study the first term syllabus too. This has disturbed the study schedule and should have been avoided.”
“The tests are not different from the regular exams that the students are preparing for. As they have already appeared for the first term exams a simple revision will suffice for preparing for the exam. It will not be much of a stress for the students,” said an education department official.
