National Anxiety Agency scores A+ in chaos 

I woke up, sweating profusely. Kamala was worried that it was a heart attack, or that global warming had finally made its presence felt. But it was just the same repeated nightmare, which has haunted me since childhood. The main story is identical every time. Only, with the details changed slightly, to give it a new twist. In one version, for example, I find myself having reached the exam hall fully prepared to ace the Biology paper, on the day of the Physics exam. Panic and palpitations invariably follow. Before I wake up, realising that it was just a bad dream. Other times I forget my hall-ticket, or mix up the dates of the exam, or am desperately late to it. The recurring theme remains one of despair and disaster. 

Students nowadays are living this nightmare only. Except, with no option to wake up, and find reality a bit better. First, the NEET-UG paper leak proved that the process was not so neat after all. Authorities have since declared war on that examination, by involving the army and the air force. It’s interesting that the navy has not yet been called in, to save a sinking ship. And also that the original leak has not been plugged, though the pipeline is being guarded zealously. I do the same when Plumber Padmanabha does not come to fix the kitchen sink – wrap the leak with a large bath towel, and hope that I have camouflaged the chaos. It gives me the feeling that I am doing something, but actually nothing gets done. 

Next, CBSE decided to improve a system that was already awesome, with an OSM (On Screen Marking) one. What began as one student’s viral complaint about his Physics answer sheet spiralled into unprecedented online trolling.  Meanwhile, principals without principles were parroting the same lines to justify the system, leading to a meme festival. Since the armed forces are busy with the NEET exam, IITs have been recruited to solve the CBSE issue. Then, many students found CUET aborted, at the last minute. Because of technical glitches, leading to delays, and even more angst. Really, National Testing Agency is doing a great job testing the patience of young students. Our education system remains proud that once upon a time we discovered the concept of zero – it’s since progressed to zero accountability. The students have not failed – the system has.

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