After conducting a high level meeting, the Central Government cancelled the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Examination of class 10th and postponed 12th examination. The examination has been cancelled for the academic year 2020-2021 amid the rise in the number of the Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19 cases.
The high level meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the COVID-19 rise and board examination schedule.
The Union Education Minister Ramesh ‘Nishank’ Pokhriyal and other officials of the Education Department including the Education Secretary attended the meeting.
Soon after the meeting, the Education Minister said, “Looking at the present situation of the pandemic and school closures, and also taking in account the safety and well-being of the students, it is decided as follows. The Board Exams for Class 12 to be held from May 4th to June, 14th, 2021 are hereby postponed. These exams will be held hereafter.”
An official statement was also issued by the Government of India (GoI) regarding the same. As per the official notification, the situation would be reviewed again on the 1st June 2021 by the Board, and details would be shared subsequently.
In addition, students would get a notice of at least 15 days prior to the beginning of examinations.
With this, students awaiting the 10th board examinations would be promoted based on their internal assessment.
The Statement regarding this read, “The results of Class Xth 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 decision was also the response to several letters written to the GoI by chief ministers of Indian states.
One such request was sent by the Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh. In his letter addressed to Ramesh Singh Pokhriyal, he said, “it would only be appropriate that a decision is taken forthwith to postpone the Class 10 and 12 Board examinations.”
In addition, due to the surge in COVID-19 cases in Delhi, Union Territory Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also wrote to PM Modi, urging the board exams should be deferred. Many students also filed an online petition demanding postponement or cancellation of the examinations, scheduled to be held in May end and June first.
