MUMBAI, JANUARY 17: The Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) practical examinations will be held only after the theory exams are over, Minister of State for Education Anil Deshmukh said today. The practical exams were slated to begin on February 15, but the ongoing junior college teachers' strike which entered the 37th day today - has ensured the delay. With a number of practicals yet to be completed, the postponement of the exams had been on the cards for quite some time.According to Deshmukh, the date for the rescheduled practical exams has not yet been decided upon. Theory exams are to begin in the second week of March, and their conduct as per schedule depends on ``when the teachers call off their strike,'' the minister maintained. Around 30 per cent of the syllabus is yet to be completed in most colleges.While academics agree that the state government had no other alternative but to postpone the practical exams, there are already fears that the date of the practical exams might clash with that ofprofessional examinations. ``Students and parents are worried that the practicals might clash with entrance tests for medicine and engineering,'' a principal said.Besides, HSC practicals might also clash with degree and post-graduate practical tests, said D B Kadam, principal of Bhavan's College. ``The same labs are used for all the exams. Finally, degree exams will have to be postponed,'' he held. Deshmukh said the striking teachers met the CM and deputy CM in Pune last Friday, and union leaders assured the government they would attend lectures but not sign the muster. ``They were to join for work from Saturday, but they didn't,'' said Deshmukh. But if teachers agree to this plan, the government is willing to negotiate, he added.
