vvvslaxman Posted February 11, 2011 Posted February 11, 2011 http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/more-important-than-cricket-world-cup-fever-puts-students-to-the-test-20110211-1aqgq.html More important than cricket? World Cup fever puts students to the test Ben Doherty February 12, 2011 NOIDA, India: Rahul Yadav knows his schoolwork is important. His parents and his teachers, remind him often enough of that. He studies commerce. It is difficult, he says, and he wants to do well. ''But the World Cup is important too,'' he says with a sheepish grin, ''Very important. The World Cup is in India and we have a very strong team.'' The cricket World Cup is the most-anticipated sporting event to arrive on Indian shores, far surpassing, in popular imagination, the Commonwealth Games, held in the capital last year. Preliminary matches begin today. The build-up is unmissable. Across the country, billboards count down the days, sales of bats have rocketed, and village shops are selling out of lollies bearing the names of star players. Advertisement: Story continues below But for Indian schoolchildren in 10th standard and 12th standard - and there are more than 20 million of them - the timing is bad. The World Cup is being held at the same time as their final school board exams. These exams are critical. The results determine university entrance and government jobs are regularly advertised with a required score. Students know that competition for jobs is fierce. When 416 paramilitary jobs were offered in the northern city of Bareilly this month, 200,000 turned up to apply. Regularly, single openings at city firms attract up to 3000 candidates. About 1.5 million students will sit for the board exams, which run through March and into April. For students from less privileged backgrounds, a strong showing in these tests can open doors. A poor one will keep them shut. ''We are at the beginning of our career, and the exams will determine what career we can take. It is very important to make good grades,'' Rahul says. But he is overjoyed by the distraction the World Cup will provide. ''I am crazy for cricket. It is the sport I love, the sport that everyone in India loves. ''Most of the time I try to concentrate on my studies, but since the World Cup is happening in India, it is a very exciting time for the country, and I will have to make time to watch.'' His parents want him to do well, but they also love the game. ''My father is crazy for cricket also; we will watch together.'' Rakesh Sachdeva, counsellor with the Central Board of Secondary Education, which runs the exams, says the coincidence of cricket and exams is a huge problem. ''Every year there is a cricket tournament which is a huge distraction for the whole country. It really affects students' academic performance; there is no academic atmosphere. It is just wiped out. It vanishes.'' Ms Sachdeva wants showpiece cricket events, in particular the annual made-for-TV Indian Premier League, moved to earlier in the year ''for the benefit of India's future''. She concedes that her call is unlikely to be heeded, given she is up against the all-powerful Board for Control of Cricket in India, and the vested financial interests behind it. ''But we feel the timing is very difficult; it is unfair on the students. We can only counsel … they should not be wasting their time with cricket matches. ''The time that is gone is never coming back again, and they won't have the chance to sit the exams again. But I think 90 per cent of parents are watching these matches, and if they are watching, the TV is on inside the home, how can they stop their children from watching?'' The students sitting for the board exams next month were not yet born when India last won the trophy, in 1983. And distraction from their studies or not, they want to see it won by India again. ''It will be a great honour for our country,'' Rahul says, walking out of the door, bat in hand, for a game in the street outside. ''We will be very proud.''
Sachinism Posted February 11, 2011 Posted February 11, 2011 Poor students. I remember '99 WC when Ganguly and Dravid were going all guns blazing vs SL, I ran home in the middle of the day :giggle:
achilles Posted February 11, 2011 Posted February 11, 2011 I remember watching the 2003 WC Final at a big screen, a day after my boards. And I remember how crazy it was to work out schedules and watch the Ind-Pak match on March 1. I still remember the date, the overs, the glares, the stares. But ask me Chemistry formulae and I'd prefer sticking to cricket :P
Pioneer Posted February 11, 2011 Posted February 11, 2011 Oh man I find it hard enough to do my work normally, I'm gonna get shytted for the next couple of months
punjabi_khota Posted February 11, 2011 Posted February 11, 2011 Oh man I find it hard enough to do my work normally' date=' I'm gonna get shytted for the next couple of months[/quote'] :dontknow: Your team aint going to last for 2 months...:hahaha:
Zelig Posted February 11, 2011 Posted February 11, 2011 :dontknow: Your team aint going to last for 2 months...:hahaha: He is rooting for Asad Rauf and Aleem Dar :phehehe:
Jersey #10 Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 Talking of Cricket fever, I remember the time I went to a test 30 minutes late. I think it was when UV hit the six sixes on broad.
DaFan Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 Good thing its a public holiday when BD plays its games.
Sir john Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 i have no problem,my exam in April. :yay::yay:
Mariyam Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 i have no problem,my exam in April. :yay::yay: But won't you study for the exams from March? :P This has always been the case. Final exams and WC always clashed. Worst part is if you have a 10th or a 12th exams clashing with a WC. :((
Zelig Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 Good thing its a public holiday when BD plays its games. You mean 1/2 a day
Sachin=GOD Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 He is rooting for Asad Rauf and Aleem Dar :phehehe: :hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical:
Sir john Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 But won't you study for the exams from March? :P This has always been the case. Final exams and WC always clashed. Worst part is if you have a 10th or a 12th exams clashing with a WC. :(( all question mostly based on cast studies. :wall: i never miss any cricket match. am not in school,am a mgmt student in last sem.:--D
Sachin=GOD Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 I remember during the 2007 T20 World Cup, I had my maths exam the day before the final - I watched the entire match and then afterwards went out to celebrate with my friends..........and barely passed the exam next day :P
Pioneer Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 :dontknow: Your team aint going to last for 2 months...:hahaha: Yup, expected that one
Sir john Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 I remember during the 2007 T20 World Cup' date=' I had my maths exam the day before the final - I watched the entire match and then afterwards went out to celebrate with my friends..........and barely passed the exam next day :P kaunsi class ka exam.:hmmmm:
Sachin=GOD Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 kaunsi class ka exam.:hmmmm: class 12th.
Sachin=GOD Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 get to 5000 posts this world cup will do that because I'll have to take a break after the World Cup - I've got exams from 13th April :((:((
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