In a breather for thousands of students across the country, the CBSE has postponed Class 12 board exams, while Class 10 exams will be cancelled this year. The decision on Class 12 exams will be taken on June 1 after a review. A 15-day notice period will be given ahead of the commencement of Class 12 exams, CBSE stated.
The decisions were taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to review the examinations to be held at various levels in view of the developing corona situation. "The prime minister reiterated that the well-being of the students has to be the top priority for the government. He also stated that the Centre would keep in mind the best interests of the students and ensure that their health is taken care of at the same time their academic interests are not harmed," Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank tweeted.
Here are the key decisions taken during the meeting on Wednesday:
1. The board exams for Class 12, which were to be held from May 4 to June 14, have been postponed. These exams will be held hereafter. The situation will be reviewed on June 1 by the board and details will be shared subsequently. A notice of at least 15 days will be given before the start of the examinations.
2. The board exams for Class 10, to be held from May 4 to June 14, have been cancelled. The results of Class 10 board will be prepared on the basis of an objective criterion to be developed by the board. Any candidate who is not satisfied with the marks allocated to him/her on this basis will be given an opportunity to sit in an exam as and when the conditions are conducive to hold the exams.
The chorus for its cancellation had grown loud in the wake of the exponential rise in COVID-19 cases.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia had appealed to the Centre to cancel the exams saying the examination centres can become super spreaders and alternative methods for assessment need to be explored.
The board had earlier this month announced that if students fail to appear for ongoing practical exams after they or any family member testing positive, the schools will conduct re-tests for them at an appropriate time.
Earlier, Kejriwal said that conducting the exam can contribute to large scale spread of the virus. "Six lakh children in Delhi are going to write CBSE exams. Nearly one lakh teachers will be a part of it. These [the centres] can become major hotspots leading to large-scale spreading of corona. Children's lives and health are very important to us. I request the Centre to cancel the CBSE exams," he said at a press conference.
"Several countries have done it, some states in India are doing it too. Some alternative methods could be thought of. Children can be promoted this time on the basis of either an online method or internal assessment. But the exams should be cancelled," he added. Sisodia, who is also Delhi's Education Minister, took to Twitter saying, "It is time that board exams be cancelled in view of increasing cases of coronavirus across the country. When whole year teaching learning did not happen the old way, then why we are adamant on conducting the exams the old way?"
