PANAJI: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has been directed to conduct pre-mock and mock tests for students who have cleared Class X and intend to take admission for Class XI science and diploma courses. This is mainly for students from six talukas which have been facing mobile connectivity issues.
Based on internet connectivity issues that surface during the mock test, the state government will decide whether to hold entrance exams in online or offline mode.
TOI has been regularly highlighting how students in the hinterland are facing mobile connectivity issues and are moving to areas where they get in range for online classes.
The pre-mock test will be conducted on Friday, while the mock test will be conducted on Saturday.
The mock tests are being conducted so that when the actual test is conducted, the students should not face any hurdles, the chief minister told reporters.
“We will complete the test successfully as there is a decrease in Covid cases and the eligible students should be able to get admission to science and diploma courses for their future prospects,” he said.
Goa board chairman Bhagirath Shetye said that around 1,700 students from six rural talukas of Sattari, Quepem, Pernem, Canacona, Bicholim and Sanguem will answer the pre-mock and mock tests.
The concept was initiated by the chief minister after it was learnt that these areas have major internet connectivity issues. Soon, the Goa board wrote to schools in these talukas about conducting mock tests and after receiving a positive response it was decided to conduct the test.
Shetye said that for mock tests, students will be sent a link where they have to register with a username and password. “Once a student logs in, his or her face will be recognised and the camera of the mobile will be used to continuously monitor the movement of the student so that there is no cheating,” he said
The board chairman said that the pre-mock test will be of 30-minute duration, while the mock test will last for an hour. “We have appointed three coordinators in each talukas for smooth conduct of the test,” Shetye said.
Recently, the state government cancelled SSC exams due to Covid-19 and decided to conduct entrance test for students who intend to take admissions to science stream and diploma courses.
