Class 12 Board Exams, NEET, JEE Meeting Starts at 11.30 – Why Unanimous Decision of CBSE, States, NTA and All Stakeholders is Necessary?

A major decision for CBSE class 12 board exams and all state boards is awaited today. In a high level meeting, the education minister, defence minister, state education ministers, state secretaries, and CBSE board, etc. shall discuss the faith of class 12th students. The meeting is due to start at 11:30 am and the agenda is the conduct of exams for Class XII and entrance examinations for professional courses.

As per the written letter to the States / UTs, by the education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal, a unanimous decision and agreement on boards exams 2021 have been requested. This means that all the state boards, national board, and MoE should discuss if class 12th board exams should be held or not, if it is ho be held then how? and find a common solution to the issue which is applicable throughout the nation.

So why is a unanimous decision of CBSE, States, NTA and all stakeholders necessary?

This is because everything is connected. Class 12 board exams are directly related to entrance exam and university admission. Only those who pass the board exams are granted admission. Also, the class 12th mark sheet and pass certificate are crucial documents for higher education admission. Hence, delay in board exams means a delay in entrance exams and university admission as well. Most of the Universities like DU, MU, etc grant admission based on scores in the class 12th exams.

If the admissions are delayed then the next admission session naturally gets affected, leading to a chain reaction. This leads to a disruption in the entire flow of education.

So basically, a unanimous decision is needed to stop further delay. Around 70 to 80% of boards follow CBSE. However, there are a few state boards that decide on an autonomous body. Even if most of the boards have conducted exams and announced the result, the admission process cannot start until all the states have done the same. Else, students of few state board will be at disadvantage.

Hence, it is the need of the hour that in the meeting all efforts are made to reach a unanimous decision for CBSE class 12 boards and the state boards. Entrance exams like NEET and JEE Main 2021 leading to admission in all medical colleges of the nation and IITs, NITs, IIITs, CFTIs respectively depend on class 12 boards.

In the written letter, Ramesh Pokhriyal has also stated that the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, and CBSE are exploring options regarding the conduct of examinations, keeping in mind the safety and security of the students and the teachers. The Department of Higher Education is also deliberating upon the finalization of the dates of examinations for institutions of higher learning.

As per recent media reports, CBSE has also proposed ways to hold class 12th board exams. The reports say that the national board has given few in which the board exams can be held. First is conducting the exam twice a year. In this, the exam will be held whenever suitable and safe. Another way is to hold it only for 4 subject paper, in the designated centres. And lastly, to hold it in the respective schools.

If these reports are true, then it seems like class 12th board exams will be held. Hence, a firm unanimous decision is needed to ensure that throughout the nation board exams are concluded safely, as soon as possible, and the admissions start without further delay.