Cut syllabus for Tamil Nadu students, schools tell CBSE

                                                
CHENNAI: Postponing exams for students of Tamil Nadu, cutting short the syllabus and setting a separate exam paper are some suggestions from CBSE schools in the state whose class schedules have been thrown haywire by the incessant rain in November. 

The schools, which have lost 26 working days, are concerned that even putting in extra hours will not help. A teacher at a prominent city school said that they may eliminate all co-curricular activities and give priority to Class 12 students. 

From November 7 to December 7, school and college students enjoyed a month-long holiday. What started out as Diwali holidays became an extended vacation due to the rain that pounded the city. 

While the state government postponed all half-yearly exams for state board schools, CBSE schools have now begun approaching the board on ways to tackle the crisis. A few schools like Bhavans Rajaji Vidyashram have already met CBSE officials, while others are joining hands to consult the board for a solution. Shree Niketan Group of schools has sought a uniform advisory from the CBSE board. 

CBSE regional officer K Srinivasan said he has updated the status of schools in TN to the board, which recently pushed the group mathematics Olympiad that was scheduled for December 6 to December 20 for Chennai centre alone. 

Some schools conducted online revisions during the holiday period, but with many schools still being unable to reopen and many other not having access to internet, parents and teachers fear this may not be enough. Some schools have also lost many books and documents due to inundation. 

Principal of DAV Public School in Velachery, Minoo Agarwal, said, "The entire ground floor, including our administrative blocks, library and classrooms, was flooded. We are unable to even step inside to check on the books and files inside. The approach road to the school is still not commutable and is waterlogged." The principal added that the school is not likely to begin functioning even next week.

IIT-M placements to resume in January 

The first phase of IIT-Madras placements, suspended after interviews were held on December 1, will now be held between January 6 and 16. The second phase will begin from January 20. The institute said all students, faculty and staff on campus are safe and the campus has been relatively free from water logging. 

Colleges in safe areas also in a fix 

Colleges affiliated to Anna University, even those in parts unaffected by rain, have been forced to postpone semester exams. The university has 539 colleges affiliated to it, around 40 of which are autonomous. All non-autonomous colleges have to follow the varsity's schedule even if they are not in flood-hit areas.