The CBSE Class 10 Board Exams, slated to begin on 4 May, have been cancelled while the Board Exams for Class 12 have been postponed, a press release from the Department of Education said on Wednesday, 14 April.
The decision was announced after a meeting held by PM Narendra Modi with Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ as well as other important officials, amid calls for cancellation of the examinations over the recent surge of COVID cases in the country.
During the meeting, the PM said that the well-being of the students has to be a top priority for the government. He also added that the Centre would ensure that their health is taken care of while keeping in mind that their academic interests are not harmed.
But how will Class 10 students now be assessed? And when will Class 12 CBSE students appear for the Board exams? Here are the answers to some pertinent questions:
I am in class 10. How will I now be assessed?
The Education Minister said that students will be promoted on the basis of internal assessment.
But what if I am not happy with my internal assessment marks?
If unsatisfied with the marks allocated via internal assessment, a candidate will be granted the opportunity to write an exam when the conditions are conducive to do so, informed the Ministry of Education.
“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 when the conditions are conducive for the same.”Ministry of Education
Have the new dates for Class 12 Board exams been announced?
Not yet. The Centre said that the exams will be held later and that the situation will be reviewed on 1 June by the Board, after which details will be shared.
However, a notice of at least 15 days will be given before the start of the examinations, the press release said.
And what about ICSE Board students?
For schools under the ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education) Board, a decision is yet to be announced.
Demands to Cancel Exams
The meeting was held amid widespread demands to cancel the exams over the surge of COVID-19 cases in India.
On Tuesday, with Delhi reporting over 13,500 cases in a span of 24 hours, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asked the Centre to cancel board exams for classes 10 and 12. He appealed to the central government to explore alternative methods of assessing students, including online exams.
Soon after the decision was announced on Wednesday, Kejriwal took to Twitter to applaud it.
The Congress Twitter handle too congratulated PM Modi on having taken this decision. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had been among those who had urged the Centre to cancel the exams.
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had also written to the Centre seeking for the postponement of board exams for classes 10 and 12.
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