World Cup fever has gripped the city and students appearing for the Board exams are no different. No doubt cricket mania is everywhere, but students appearing for their boards are in a dilemma, whether to choose revisions or watch the matches. The Pioneer talked with some young cricket aficionados to know about their first choice and balancing their schedule.
Bhavesh Verma of St Paul Senior Secondary School, who will be appearing for the class 12th boards, says, “World cup is a major distraction and I am in a fix. If exams and world cup would have been timed appropriately, I would have seen every match ball by ball. Most of the matches are being telecasted early in the day just at the time of our examination. We are really sad as we do not have any choice.”
Tanmay Batham of the same school has made a provision on his smart phone to watch minute to minute updates with a promise to his mother that he will not let his studies get affected. “As I have not been permitted to watch TV therefore, I have asked for permission to at least see the score on my smart phone. My mother agreed to this only condition that I will not disturb my study schedule,” he added laughingly.
Unhappy with the timing of world cup matches Suraj Kumar of class 10th, said, “This is the worst time for the world cup to begin. It happens once in four years and I don’t want to miss it, but I also want to perform well in board examinations therefore, I will watch the highlights once I am through with my exams.”
Even the girls are equally enthusiastic about world cup but at the same time, they feel that it is making a lot of distraction in their studies. Bhawna Sharma, grade 10th from St Montfort School said, “Had the world cup being played in any other month, I would have watched the series especially when India is playing. But I feel boards are the first priority so handling all kinds of distractions somehow I manage to concentrate on my studies.”
Aditi Sachdev, class 12th from St Theresa’s Girls school, said, “World cup is something that no one would like to miss especially when India is playing. But for us board exams matter a lot as they cannot be neglected. I have downloaded few apps with which I will be updated with scores and other match highlights.”
Parents on the other hand are trying all possible ways to keep their wards away from cricket fever but some students are really advanced. Anand Kulshreshtha of class 10th asked his father to record the matches on Tata Sky HD record service so that he can watch them all with a relaxed mood.
The world cup schedule colliding with board examination is nothing less than a tragedy for the young cricket enthusiasts. Yet some have managed to watch score on their smart phones while some have adopted other ways to remain update and concentrate on exam preparations understanding the importance of boards.