From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jul 29: Deputy chief minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan, who is also the Higher Education Minister, visited Maharani Lakshmi Ammanni College in Malleswaram on Wednesday and reviewed the preparations made to conduct the CET exams on July 30 and 31.
The deputy chief minister reviewed the preparations in detail and noted the precautions taken in the wake of COVID-19.
He inspected the seating arrangements towards creating distance between students writing the exams, sanitization of classrooms, compulsory wearing of masks, thermal screening, security, transport facility and other basic facilities.
Speaking to media persons, the deputy chief minister said, “The government has no problem in conducting the CET exam. Even in the wake of COVID, the government has made all the arrangements for the smooth conduct of the exams."
"We successfully conducted all papers of the SSLC exam and one PU paper amidst the COVID challenge. It is possible for the government to conduct the CET exams as well, with necessary preparation and precaution in place at all centres across the state," he said.
Dr Narayana explained that the CET exams were earlier scheduled on April 23 and 24. They were postponed due to the COVID lockdown.
"On May 12, we had decided to conduct the CET exams on July 30 and 31. Since then, the government has been working towards taking necessary COVID precautions, arranging transport, medical facility, security etc for the students," he said.
He also said: "We have also made arrangements for COVID positive students to write the exams. Even students from containment zones can come out with one of their parents or guardians and write the exam. Several measures such as sanitization, social distancing, wearing of masks etc, have been made mandatory at all centres."
With the Karnataka High Court directing the state government to reconsider holding the CET exams scheduled to be held on July 30 and 31 in the wake of COVID situation, the deputy chief minister held an emergency meeting through video conference with all the senior officials concerned and district DCs on Tuesday evening.
"All the officials, deputy commissioners and police officers have assured full cooperation and are confident of conducting the Karnataka CET exams as scheduled. They are fully prepared as per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and have put in place all the necessary protocols and will take required precautions," the deputy chief minister said.