Academic schedules back to normal after Covid blues in Andhra Pradesh

VISAKHAPATNAM: Academic schedules of various courses seem to have finally fallen in line in Andhra Pradesh after the severe disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic for almost two years.
While the intermediate and class X exams of state board have been scheduled for March and April respectively, several schools and colleges have initiated the admission process for the next academic cycle.
Parents have also started a hunt for the suitable schools/colleges for their kids for the next academic year, particularly for the intermediate courses considering the intense competition for the national entrance exams like JEE and NEET. The Covid-19 posed innumerable, unprecedented challenges to the academic sector, starting from March 2020. Right from closure of educational institutions for almost six months to postponement of exams and promotion of students to next classes without exams, the pandemic forced the institutions to embrace digital technologies. The institutions had to tweak their schedules and plans several times due to the then uncertain situation.
The onslaught of the pandemic on the sector had continued even in 2021 and the first half of 2022 before the situation returned to almost pre-Covid level in September 2022. The academic sessions, exams, and other activities went on normal for the most part of the ongoing academic year without any major disruptions, paving way for timely exams and planning for next academic year.
Speaking to TOI, government examinations director, D Devananda Reddy, said that the class X exams will begin from April 3.
“Arrangements are being done for the smooth conduct of the exams. The class X exams will be conducted in the reorganised 26-district pattern for the first time this year. As the Covid-19 situation has significantly improved, all the activities in the academic sector have been streamlined” said Devananda Reddy.
Secretary and correspondent of Little Angels CBSE School at MVP Colony, Venu Mohan Manga, said that the CBSE board class X exams will begin on February 15, while the exams for their school with Telugu will begin on February 24. “Due to the sudden announcement of these exam dates, ahead of the anticipated schedule, we have to now plan for the annual exams of other classes as the class X exams will go on for about a month. The coordination between the boards needs to be improved as the new academic session for the state board will begin in June, schools will be reopened in the CBSE system in the first week of April,” said Venu Mohan.
The Little Angels secretary added they observed lethargy, short attention span, and reduced discipline in some students after reopening of schools in initial months of Covid-19. “However, now everything is back to pre-Covid-19 on the academic front,” Venu Mohan added.