Kerala has become the first state to resume school for conducting board exams that were stalled by COVID-19 lockdown. The state government has prepared and implemented stringent guidelines to ensure safety of students during the initial phase of examinations.

However, it was a challenging task to implement the guidelines as 4.25 lakh students appeared for class 10 state board exams at 2,945 centres. In addition to this, 29,458 students reached at 389 centres to appear for vocational higher secondary tests across the state on Tuesday. The class 12 state board examination was conducted today at 2,032 centres for 3,79,519 students.            

The school exams will be conducted till month-end. “We are not approaching the exams with fear, but with vigil. All students have been given masks and pamphlets on Covid-19 guidelines. Students have been told to ensure social distancing, right from the time they step out of their homes,’’ said Director of Public Instruction Jeevan Babu in an official statement.

According to officials, about 5,000 thermal screening devices have been purchased and fire and rescue teams have disinfected all centres. The examination halls are being disinfected again after the first session of exams.

“Students who could not clear the thermal screening, were in quarantine, or had family members under home quarantine, were allotted special rooms. They were asked to not hand over answer sheets to teachers, but deposit them in special bags,” said Babu. Invigilators will be provided gloves each day and their disposal will be in colour-coded packets.