Inadequate facilities trouble students in board exams

Srinagar, Nov 9: Students and parents across several districts of Kashmir have complained of inadequate arrangements and poor facilities at centres designated for the ongoing annual examinations conducted by the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE).

The annual examinations for Classes 10 and 12 are currently underway across Kashmir and the winter zones of Jammu division. While the Class 10 exams began on November 3, Class 12 students started writing their papers on November 8.

However, soon after the first two days of the senior secondary examinations, multiple complaints surfaced from parents alleging that students were being made to sit in cramped rooms without proper seating or writing facilities.

In Anantnag district, parents said students in one of the designated schools faced severe discomfort due to lack of infrastructure. “The examination hall is congested and the students are sitting on wooden chairs with tiny armrests, which do not allow them to properly place their answer scripts,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, a parent.

He added that the lack of space and writing desks made it difficult for students to manage answer booklets and stationery items. “Left-handed students are facing even more difficulty as these armrests are designed for right-handers,” Ahmad said.

Parents also complained that the chairs were placed too close together, leaving students with little legroom. “Such conditions cause distraction and discomfort, directly affecting students’ writing posture and performance,” another parent said.

They questioned the decision to allot three exam centres to an institution with limited infrastructure. “There are nearby schools with better facilities that have not been assigned any examination centre,” parents said, demanding that students be provided proper desks or shifted to schools with better arrangements.

Similar grievances emerged from Srinagar, where parents alleged that students were made to sit on the floor in a private school to write their exams. “In this cold weather, students were seated on thin rugs laid over cemented floors. They couldn’t even write properly due to the discomfort,” said Waseem Ahmad, a parent from downtown Srinagar.

Responding to the complaints, JKBOSE Secretary Ghulam Hassan Sheikh assured immediate action. “I have taken up the matter with the concerned officers. Proper facilities will be provided from the next paper onwards,” Sheikh told Greater Kashmir.

He added that the Board would issue necessary instructions to ensure that all centres meet the required standards for comfort and fairness.

In addition to poor arrangements, allegations of malpractice have also surfaced. Students appearing for the Class 10 exams in a centre in Kupwara district alleged that some teachers on duty were assisting selected students during the exam.

“Some teachers were helping students write answers. It disturbed others and demotivated those who has worked hard,” a student said.

Taking note of the complaint, Secretary Sheikh said the Board would replace the entire staff at the centre in question. “JKBOSE does not have enough personnel to monitor all exam centres closely, but we trust the staff on duty. However, any form of unfair practice will not be tolerated,” he said.

As the annual examinations continue, parents and students have urged the Board to ensure better infrastructure and stricter oversight to maintain fairness and comfort in the remaining papers.