A deserted street in Kurseong on the second day of the bandh. Picture by Vivek Singh

Siliguri/Kurseong, Feb. 21: The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations and authorities of hill schools have confirmed that the ICSE (Class X) and ISC (Class XII) exams would be held according to schedule despite the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha-backed indefinite shutdown in Darjeeling.

Although educational institutions have been kept outside the purview of the bandh, there was some confusion over the ICSE and ISC written exams, starting February 29, because banks and post offices where the question papers are stocked have been shut down indefinitely.

The practical exams started on February 18.

“Anticipating trouble, we had informed the Council, which granted us exceptional permission to stock the question papers at an alternative place with strict security measures.” said Rev. Howard, the rector of St Paul’s School, Darjeeling, and the convener for ISE schools in the hills.

“We have kept the question papers for the practical exams as well as 16 theory papers in our custody. Some papers are stuck in Siliguri, but we are making arrangements to bring them safely,” added Howard.

The same arrangement has been worked out for ICSE too. “We are taking all steps to ensure that the exams are held smoothly,” said G. Arathoon, the officiating chief executive and additional secretary of the Council.

This year, around 3,000 students from 40 hill schools will appear for ICSE and ISC.

In Kurseong today, educational institutions were plagued by low attendance owing to problems of transportation, though the Madhyamik exams were held without trouble.

St Alphonsus School, for example, had to declare a holiday before noon. “Each section had 20-24 students absent. Most of them live outside the town and they could not come because vehicles refused to ply fearing trouble. Some of the teachers, too, could not attend school,” said Fr Edward Gurung, the headmaster.

Residential schools, too, have been affected. “A number of our students on their way back after the winter vacation are stuck in Siliguri and other places,” said a teacher of Himali Boarding School.

Attendance at Kurseong College was as low as 5 per cent.

“We were supposed to hold the qualifying test for the university exams from tomorrow. But now we are rethinking the schedule, though no decision has been made yet,” said principal Prabhat Pradhan.