A Durga puja pandal at New Dakbungalow Road on Sunday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Half-yearly examination schedule shortly after Puja vacation has spoilt the festive mood of some students.

Most of the schools would be closed from September 30 for a week and the half-yearly examinations are scheduled to start from the second week of October.

Many students have even cancelled their vacation plans, as they want to prepare for the exam. Rachna Kumari, a Class IX student of St Xavier’s High School, who had planned to celebrate Puja with her family, will not go home. Her exam will start shortly after the vacation. “Though the syllabus is almost complete for the second terminal exam, a thorough revision is necessary to score good marks,” she said.

Another Class XI student of St Joseph’s Convent School, Ipshita Das, said: “We visit our relatives in Calcutta during During Puja. But this year, I have to stay back and study since my exam will start from October 8.”

School authorities explained the reason to conduct the half-yearly examination immediately after the vacation. Albert Abraham, vice-principal, St Xavier’s High School, said: “The syllabus for the half-yearly examination is complete and revision is going on. The students can have fun since they will get a week time after the vacation to prepare for the exam.”

However, there are some lucky few who will take their exam before the vacation. Some of them have already started planning their holidays. Dibya Ghosh, a Class VII student of Radiant International School, said: “My exam will get over before the vacation. This year, I will go to Calcutta for Durga Puja and am excited about it.”

Another Class XI student of Gyan Niketan, Shashwat, said: “Since my exam will get over before the vacation, I would like to spend time with my family. I will go to Chennai to visit my sister during my vacation.”