Bengaluru, March 26 (TIWN) Karnataka education department, which successfully conducted board exams during the Covid pandemic in the last two years, is now facing the challenge of hijab issue.

Against the backdrop of verdict by the Special bench of the Karnataka High Court, the state government has decided not to allow students wearing hijab to take up exams. To ensure smooth conduct of exams, tight police security will be made near the examination centres.  The state government is conducting crucial SSLC (Class 10) examinations from March 28 and will continue till April 11. As many as 8,73,846 students have enrolled for SSLC exams this academic year.  The exams will be conducted in 3,444 centres across the state. CCTV cameras have been installed in all examination centres and prohibitory orders will be clamped in and around them.  Since the last two years, the teaching fraternity has been under tremendous stress. The teachers pledged their lives and worked during Covid pandemic and conducted board exams. Though, all students were passed, the initiative by the department was appreciated. Separate arrangements were made for Covid affected students to give their exams.  The teachers were also used for Covid-related work and many had lost their lives in the process. Now, its the hijab issue which is equally stressful for them, sources in the education department say.