Odisha Matric offline exam from tomorrow: Over 15k students to appear amid COVID pandemic

Bhubaneswar: More than 15,000 students in the state will appear in the offline Matric examination set to begin tomorrow.

Speaking on the matter, School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash today said Board of Secondary Education (BSE) is all prepared to conduct the exam to be held at 504 centres across the state. Total 15,136 students will appear in the exam in adherence to all COVID-19 guidelines.

Results of the examination which will continue till August 5 will be announced on scheduled time, he added.

Regarding the direction of Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) to BSE to not conduct the offline Class 10 improvement exam for 139 differently-abled students, the Minister said total 2,555 Correspondence Course Regular (CR) students, including 139 Divyangs had appeared in the exam, though their results were not declared.

The Commission is scheduled to take a final call on the matter today and the department concerned will act accordingly, he added.

BSE Chairman Ramashish Hazra said a special squad has been formed to check if COVID-19 safety norms are properly followed by all concerned at the exam centres.