DUBAI - A Dubai-based Indian school has requested the CBSE board to consider starting exams an hour late in the UAE beginning next year after their students nearly missed a Grade XII exam due to heavy traffic jam recently.
Four students from the Millennium School were stuck in a car on Dubai-Sharjah road for over two hours last week, forcing school authorities to make this unusual request.
The girls from Millennium School left their homes at 6.45am to reach the exams venue at 9am. However, they were stranded on the Sharjah-Dubai road for more than two hours and had to finally get out of their car and walk to get out of the traffic. “The girls became tense and nervous and lost out on precious time because of this. They walked a little distance and the principal sent a car to pick up and drop them at the exam centre,” said Jude Myers, headmaster of the school.
“We have now written to CBSE to consider the situation in the UAE and from next year, possibly start the examinations by 10, an hour later than usual. This is the first year where we have experienced such heavy jams,” he said.
The school has now sent out a notice to all parents advising them to drop their wards as early as possible, if they are not using the school buses. It is waiting for the board’s response and hopes that their request will be considered.
A principal, who didn’t want to be named, told KT, “We are also considering taking up the issue with CBSE. The traffic issue is specific to the UAE, especially Dubai and Sharjah, and we do not want our students to suffer because of this.”
Parents and students have welcomed the suggestion. “It would be a great relief if it does happen as mornings are peak traffic time. My Grade X daughter gets so worked up just before the exam as she is scared she might get stuck in a jam,” said Shyamala S, a parent.
Divya S, a Grade XII student, said if this decision was taken, it would alleviate the anxieties of all students who sit every year for board exams.
M C Sebastian, Chairman of the Council of CBSE-affiliated schools in the Gulf, told KT from Riyadh, that he was aware of the road bottlenecks in the UAE.
“In view of the acute traffic problems in the UAE, we will strongly recommend the case to CBSE. We will definitely request them to consider at least a half an hour postponement of the exams from next year,” he said.
Many principals, however, view this as unrealistic and difficult. “This would be an issue as CBSE exams world over begin at the same time so as to prevent any question leaks. People will have to comprehend the traffic situation and take preventive measures. It is unrealistic to change timings,” opined Abha Sahgal, Principal of Delhi Private School, Sharjah.
However, Sebastian asserted that if a decision was taken it would have to be implemented in all CBSE schools globally, rather than just the UAE.
More than 3,200 students from Grade XII and about 4,500 students from Grade X in the UAE are appearing for the exams this year.
By Preeti Kannan (Our staff reporter)