MANAGING MARCH MANIA (4)

While examinations offer stressful moments to students to anticipate, see and manage questions which they may or may not know, so does it offer issues and situations to the parents and officials who conduct examinations.

“Good Morning, Sir”  the gentleman on the other side of the telephone was wishing, but his voice was almost trembling.

“Yes Please... Good Morning…”

“Sir, I am calling from…” He mentioned the name of a city in Andhra Pradesh. “Sir, my son is writing class 12 examinations. He has worked so hard. He has also been studying for IIT.”

“Please tell me what your problem is” I interrupted him.

“Sir, for two days he had been having fever. yesterday evening we found symptoms of Chicken Pox”.

“I see”

“I am totally upset, Sir. How will he write the examination? I am a government employee and have put all my interests on him…”

I could listen to the pain of his heart.

“I went to the examination center this morning. “ It was around 9 30 am. “The examination in charge refused to allow him inside saying it is contagious. Other parents will object.”

It was unfortunate that the center superintendent was not even aware of the provisions in the rules to accommodate and facilitate such candidates. Nor could they understand the pain of the parents.

“Don’t worry. Go to the examination center if your son is in a position to sit and write the examinations. We will do the needful.”

I had to speak to the examination superintendent bringing her attention to the rules which provide for separate room for such students along with an invigilator.

Examinations, happening at the start of a summer season in many parts of the country, with weather changing around, is a ripe time for several infections, diseases leave alone the personal psychological problems of the students…

Well, as this problem got sorted out, the next call was from a mother sobbing “Sir, my son has just fallen down from the cycle while going to the examination center and has broken his hand…”

As for an individual, there is just one problem; but for those who are organizers, they have limitless problems. But once you are willing to sort out, every problem has an immediate solution. Decision making power is essential.