Scholarship exam to clash with summer vacation, stakeholders unhappy

A Correspondent

Dibrugarh, June 23: The latest notification dated June 22 of the office of the Director of Elementary Education, Government of Assam, regarding the conduct of Chief Minister’s Special Scholarship, 2017, for the students of Class V and Class VIII has left many teachers, students and guardians in the lurch.

The scholarship has been scheduled for July 21 and July 22, and will therefore coincide with the summer vacation, much to the inconvenience of the different stakeholders involved. Talking to The Sentinel, a parent said, “Given the academic pressure, summer vacation is the only time when kids find time to go to their relatives’ place for some recreation. As such, keeping the examination during this time can be counterproductive for them. Moreover, it also raises the possibility of many deserving students not appearing for the scholarship examination, thereby defeating the very purpose of the process.” When The Sentinel reached out to a teacher in this matter, he said, “There is no other option but to follow the orders. Nevertheless, the decision-making authority should have been circumspect enough not to conduct the examination during summer vacation. Unlike central schools, our holidays are much lesser. In that background, our pre-planned engagements for the summer vacation might be affected.”