Students told to imagine blast scene

The CBSE seems to have flunked the parent test on Day 1 of the Class 12 board examination. Some parents have protested against the English Core question paper, calling it "insensitive". Shaswati Das and Mallica Joshi report. Offensive bits

The CBSE seems to have flunked the parent test on Day 1 of the Class 12 board examination. Some parents have protested against the English Core question paper, calling it "insensitive".

Students were asked to imagine being witness to a blast in a Delhi market and write a report.

"There are families who have lost their loved ones in bomb blasts. It's extremely insensitive to include such incidents," said Ajay Suri, a businessman, whose daughter sat the exam.

"It was a very general report and students are tested on their knowledge of their surroundings. It was not insensitive," said Fauziya Umar, who teaches English at Springdales School, Pusa Road.

A comprehension passage, too, was received badly.

"It made students nervous. My son got anxious, wondering if he was depressed," said PK Mohanty, a government employee.

The passage had statements such as, "…there are some individuals who accept competition in a healthy fashion. There are others who collapse into weeping wrecks before and exam."

"Parents need to lighten up a little and stop nit-picking. Children get more worried because of such reactions," said Ameeta Wattal, vice-chairperson, National Progressive School Conference.