Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) issued separate public notices addressing two issues – change of examination/practical centre and conduction of practical in 3 shifts. CBSE issued public notices on March 16 and 17, 2021 for the respective issues on the official website cbse.gov.in. Subsequently, authorities have permitted students to change their theory/practical examination centre by following certain procedures. Moreover, CBSE has also permitted schools to conduct practical exams in 3 shifts as per their choice.
CBSE on March 16, 2021, issued a notice on the official website cbse.gov.in regarding the change of examination or practical centre. According to the notice, certain students belonging to Classes 10 and 12 have shifted to some other city or country along with their families. This relocation is primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, such students shall not be able to appear for the practical or theory examination at the assigned centres from where they had previously registered for the board exams.
The education board has thus, permitted the change of centre and mentioned the steps to be taken to do so. Firstly, it is made mandatory that the concerned students must have been issued examination roll numbers by the board. Such students have to request their respective schools to change their examination (theory or practical) centre. While making this request, candidates must also mention their preferred school and city/state to appear for the examination.
The concerned schools, after receiving the requests from students, must login to their school account on the CBSE website and submit the required student information. This information comprises of student name, roll number, changes required in theory, practical or both, required city/country, etc. Schools must mention the preferred city of students carefully as no further request for changing the examination centre shall be entertained.
In case, a student wants to change the examination centre for both theory and practical exams, a common city shall be assigned for both and not two different locations. Based on the received requests, CBSE shall assign the same preferred city or neighbouring city to the students. This decision of the board shall be final.
Students can send their requests by March 25, 2021 while schools have to upload those requests latest by March 31, 2021. Again, no request beyond the specified timeline shall be entertained by authorities.
CBSE also issued a public notice on March 17, 2021 pertaining to the conduction of practical exams in three shifts. The notice stated that some schools conducting practical had requested the education board to allow them to organise this practical in 3 shifts rather than 2. This shall play an instrumental role in conducting practical exams early and providing more time to students for their exam preparation.
The education board thus, granted their request and stated that schools are permitted to conduct the practical exam up to three shifts per day. However, all other conditions centred around practical exams shall remain the same.
