Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is currently weighing the possibility of all options available pertaining to Class 12 board exams for the academic year 2020-21. Among the options available is to assess the students based on their Class 9, 10 and 11 marks. However, this option is considered with the underlying possibility of scrapping the Class 12 board exams. However, the board is yet to reach a final consensus. As per reports, the board is all set to announce its decision on June 01, 2021 or within the first week of the month.
The Education Minister of India, Mr. Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, convened a meeting with the education ministers and secretaries of states on Sunday, May 23, 2021. During the meeting, Mr. Pokhriyal gave two alternatives to states. The first alternative as conduct exams as per the usual pattern after the situation normalises in the respective states. The second alternative is to conduct exams for a shorter duration i.e., conducting exams for a few subjects or each exam for a shorter time.
However, these two alternatives are being considered if CBSE decides to conduct the Class 12 board exams. However, the other possibility must also be considered. Thus, in case the board exams are scrapped, students shall be evaluated based on their Class 9, 10 and 11 exams. Other assessments methods are also being considered to ensure that students are evaluated in a fair and unbiased manner.
As per reports submitted on or before May 25, 2021, a total of 32 states and UTs have supported the central government’s decision of conducting the Class 12 board exams. According to sources, majority states have supported the conduction of offline board exams for shorter duration for major subjects in August 2021. Only Delhi, Maharashtra, Goa and Andaman & Nicobar have disagreed with the government’s decision. However, the country is still recovering from the second wave of COVID-19 and the situation is constantly being reviewed. Therefore, scrapping board exams and assessing students based on other criteria are still being considered.
The Supreme Court of India is scheduled to hear two Public Interest Litigations (PILs) today, May 31, 2021 regarding the CBSE class 12 board exams. One PIL is in favour of cancellation while the other is against it. As for students, they have continuously bombarded twitter with tweets using the hashtag #cancelboardexam. This clearly indicates that students are also against the conduction of Class 12 board exams amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
CBSE is expected to take the final call by Tuesday, June 01, 2021 and the education minister is expected to make an important announcement about the same. Currently, various parts of the country are under strict lockdown or partial restrictions. Under such conditions, the board is under pressure to make hectic last-minute decisions. While various speculations are spreading around, only future will tell what CBSE shall finally decide.
