Centre issues rules to conduct exams amid COVID-19 pandemic; Check details here

Guwahati: The Centre on Wednesday announced the standard operating procedures (SOP) to be followed while conducting examinations amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic scenario.

As per the guidelines issued by the Union Health Ministry, only the centres outside containment zones will be allowed to conduct examinations.

Moreover, staff and examinees residing in the containment zone areas will not be allowed at the centres and educational institutions will have to make separate arrangements for them at a later date and via other means.

As per the guidelines, only asymptomatic students and staff will be allowed inside an examination centre.

Symptomatic students shall be referred to the nearest health centre and the institution shall arrange the candidate's exam later when the person is declared physically fit.

The ministry also said if a student is found to be symptomatic and insists on writing an examination, the candidate may be allowed to do so in a separate isolation room with due permission from the authorities conducting the examination.

If the candidate's symptoms deteriorate, the nearest health facility needs to be informed. The examination premises will also need to be disinfected if a person is found positive.

To minimize health risks, staff belonging to high-risk groups such as older employees, pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions will not be deployed at examination centres.

In cases where these deployments are unavoidable, such people will be given tasks that do not involve direct contact with students.

The Union Health Ministry has also urged the institutions to plan examinations in a staggered manner to avoid 'overcrowding.'

An adequate workforce also needs to be deployed to ensure social distancing is maintained, the ministry further advised.

Multiple entries and exits gates have also been recommended to avoid crowding.

Students will be taken in batches for registration, and then sent in batches inside the examination rooms.

Exam centres will also need to ensure adequate rooms so that seating arrangements are made with proper social distancing.

Contact-less processes such as online forms, digital signatures have been recommended.

No sharing of personal belongings will be allowed, use of spit or saliva to separate sheets will also not be allowed.

Students will not be allowed entry without face masks or covers, and the masks are to be worn at all times.

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