Exam SOPs: Students, staff from containment zones debarred; mask mandatory

The invigilator for pen and paper-based tests will sanitise students' hands before distributing question papers and answer sheets and the examinees will also do the same

Disallowing staff and students from containment zones, making mask and a health self-declaration mandatory, and entry only for asymptomatic people are among the key measures in the Union Health Ministry's latest guidelines on conducting exams safely during the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the Standard Operating Procedures issued Wednesday, the invigilator for pen and paper-based tests will sanitise his/her hands before distributing question papers and answer sheets and the examinees will also do the same before receiving or handing back these materials.

"Use of spit/saliva for counting and distributing sheets shall not be allowed," the SOPs stated.

The collection and packing of the answer