The half-yearly examinations in council schools across Bijnor district have been unexpectedly postponed, disrupting the academic calendar for thousands of students. The exams, which were scheduled to commence on November 28, will now be conducted from December 10 to December 15.
Election Duties Disrupt Academic Schedule
The postponement comes as a direct result of the ongoing Summary Revision of Electoral Rolls process across Uttar Pradesh. Most teachers have been assigned duties as booth-level officers (BLOs), leaving schools without adequate staff to conduct examinations smoothly.
Despite complete preparations for the half-yearly assessments, the mass deployment of teaching staff for election-related work has created an unavoidable situation. School authorities found themselves facing a critical shortage of invigilators and supervisory staff during the crucial examination period.
Massive Education System Affected
The scale of impact is substantial across Uttar Pradesh's council school system. Current enrollment data reveals that approximately 1.48 crore students are studying in these institutions, supported by a massive teaching workforce.
In primary schools alone, at least 1 crore children receive education under the guidance of 3.38 lakh teachers. The upper primary section adds another 43 lakh students being taught by 1,20,860 teachers and 25,223 instructors.
Overall, the council school system employs over 6.28 lakh educators, including both teachers and specialized instructors, who collectively shape the future of millions of young learners across the state.
Balancing Electoral Responsibilities and Education
Education department officials explained that the decision to postpone examinations was taken after careful consideration of the ground reality. With the majority of teaching staff engaged in election preparation work, conducting fair and proper examinations became practically impossible.
The authorities prioritized ensuring smooth conduct of examinations over sticking to the original schedule. The new dates from December 10 to 15 provide sufficient time for teachers to complete their election duties and return to academic responsibilities.
This situation highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing teachers' additional governmental duties with their primary educational responsibilities. While election work is crucial for democratic processes, the repeated disruption of academic schedules raises concerns about learning continuity for students.
Parents and students have been notified about the revised examination schedule, and schools are making necessary arrangements to ensure the delayed examinations are conducted efficiently next month.
