No labs for government schools in Ramnad

RAMANATHAPURAM: Tenth standard students are seriously handicapped in facing practical examinations, as many government high schools do not have laboratories in the district.Science practical examination has been made mandatory for students in ninth and tenth classes from the current academic year.  However, they are in a quandary as many government high schools do not have proper laboratory for the students to conduct tests.Though, the government has provided limited equipment for some government high schools here, the teachers have to use them for demonstration only in the classrooms as the schools do not have separate laboratories.The government has issued guidelines to teachers on conducting practical tests. The students have to sit for the quarterly examination shortly and they may feel handicapped to attempt practical tests with the available materials. The teachers find it difficult to conduct practical tests with limited apparatus.  The teachers have to manage with available paraphernalia for the practical tests. A student has to secure 22.5 marks in theory and 12.5 marks in practical tests to enable a pass in the annual examination.  Therefore, the practical classes are essential for the ninth and tenth students under the Samacheer Kalvi system.A school headmaster told Express that the school teachers had adequate experience for conducting practical tests for students. But there was no laboratory in many government high schools to conduct practical lessons.  Therefore, the education department should make arrangements for setting up laboratories in schools at the earliest, he said.