Mumbai schools have decided to conduct the first competency tests to assess basic skills in maths and languages throughout this week, although the deadline is September 30.
The Maharashtra state education department, which was mulling to extend the deadline, has not done so. It said students of those schools failing to conduct the tests will score zero.
Non-state board schools received the papers late. Some received them on Tuesday, a day before the deadline.
The schools were asked to conduct the exams between September 14 and 30.
But, non-state board schools were given papers on Monday and Tuesday. Many were even asked to get photocopies of the papers as the consignment of test papers was delayed.
Some schools such as Rustomjee Cambridge International School, Dahisar, and HVB Global Academy, Marine Lines, received all the test papers on Tuesday and so will not be able to stick to the deadline.
“The department had initially sent us only a few papers. We finally received all the papers on Tuesday,” said Tanya Valecha, principal of Rustomjee school. “We will conduct the tests this week.”
Chandrakanta Pathak, principal of HVB Global Academy, said they might not conduct the tests this week and were informed by officials that they could take it till October 8.
{{/usCountry}}Chandrakanta Pathak, principal of HVB Global Academy, said they might not conduct the tests this week and were informed by officials that they could take it till October 8.
{{/usCountry}}“We are busy with our academics and school work right now. We might do them later,” said Pathak.
None of the other schools has received any information on the extension of deadline.
“We are trying to stick to the deadline, but it might not be possible given the huge number of students,” said Seema Buch, principal of Gundecha Education Academy, Kandivli. “Classes 5 to 8 finished their test on Tuesday and others will be split over the next two days.”
Nand Kumar, principal secretary of the education department, said schools not taking the tests within the given time will be considered to have failed.
“We have not yet discussed with the education minister on the extension of deadline,” said Kumar. “Those schools, which do not take the exams, will be shown to have scored zero.”