The SSLC examinations took to a smooth start in Hassan, Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga districts on Monday. Hundreds of Muslim girl students took the examinations after removing the hijab, as the government had issued a circular making uniforms mandatory for students.
Among the 20,960 students in Hassan district, as many as 331 remained absent. Of those absent 146 were fresh candidates and 185 were repeaters. In Shivamogga district 23,117 students had taken the examination. Including 14 repeaters. As many as 391 candidates did not appear for the examination. In Chikkamagaluru district, of the total 14,447 students, as many as 702 students were absent.
Whether the government’s decision not to allow students with the hijab to enter the examination hall was the reason for the absenteeism is not clear. Except for a couple of incidents, where the parents wanted to know why the hijab was not allowed inside the classroom, the examination was smooth.
The Department of Public Instructions had taken measures for the examination as per the standard operating procedure in view of COVID-19. The students had to go through a medical check-up before entering the examination centre. Those with symptoms of the infection were made to sit in special rooms. In Shivamogga district 15 such students wrote the exams in special rooms. Senior officers gave a surprise visits to some centres on the day.
Chaos
Chaos and tension prevailed for some time at Mary Immaculate Girls High School in Shivamogga as honey bees attacked a few parents who had visited the school to drop their children for the examination. They suffered bee stings, even as the teaching staff ensured the students got inside the classroom. Some journalists, who had gathered on the premises, also suffered bee stings. They were taken to McGann Hopsital for treatment.
