May Increase JEE Frequency to 4 Times a Year: Education Minister

Education Minister Dr Pokhriyal said that a call on syllabus and dates for competitive exams will taken later.

Education Minister Dr Pokhriyal is expected to discuss boards and competitive exams during his 10 am live today.

(Photo: Twitter/@DrRPNishank)

Education Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal on Thursday, 10 December, said that a decison on postponement of competitive exams will be taken depending an assessment of the situation that prevails next year.

Responding to the question of a student during his live interaction with students, Dr Pokhriyal said that the Ministry is actively considering to increase the number of rounds for competitive exam JEE Main from two to three or even four, if necessary.

“A lot of students are asking if the number of rounds can be increased for competitive exams. The Ministry is considering whether JEE exams should be held twice, thrice or even four times. If it’s possible, we will take a decision on this.”

Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal

At the moment, JEE Main is only conducted twice in a year.

He said that while the Central Board of Secondary Education has already slashed its syllabus by 30 percent, a call on reducing the syllabus of competitive entrance exams or delaying them will be taken depending on the prevailing situation.

Dr Pokhriyal said that since a lot of state boards haven’t reduced their syllabus, the Ministry is discussing the extent to which the syllabus for JEE and other exams are to be reduced “so that a student who has covered 100 percent of the syllabus as well as someone who has covered only 80 percent of the syllabus can attempt the exam successfully.”

He also said that CBSE has removed the word ‘fail’ from its evaluation system.

Minister Takes Questions From Students

Since students have been raising concerns over exams, Dr Pokhriyal said that they can convey the same to him ahead of the scheduled live, using #EducationMinisterGoesLive.

The decision was announced by the minister on his Twitter handle, days after in a high-level meeting conducted by the ministry it had decided to take a call on board exams following suggestions from the student, parent and teacher community.

In his tweet, Dr Pokhriyal said that 2020 has been a year filled with changes, like “adjusting to online education, adapting to new normal.”

The minister had further added that he will be going live on 10 December, “to talk about upcoming competitive/board exams.”

What We Know About CBSE Boards, JEE Main So Far

The live address comes at a time when the Central Board of Secondary Education has ruled out the possibility of conducting Class 10 and 12 board exams online, while adding that only pen-and-paper written exams will be held.

“The exams, as and when they are be conducted, will be in written mode and not in an online mode. The exams will be conducted following all COVID protocols.”

CBSE Statement

CBSE also said that while dates for board and practicals have not been decided, for students who have not been able to attend practical classes, alternative methods will be used to award marks under practicals.

Meanwhile, earlier reports had indicated that the first phase of JEE Main 2021 could be postponed from January to February due to ongoing admissions and the COVID pandemic.