The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in a circular released on February 11, 2021, has asked the schools to conduct class 9 and 11 final examinations following COVID-19 safety protocols and start the new academic session from April 1, 2021. It has been directed to all the schools affiliated to CBSE to conduct in-person annual examinations.
The notification as released by the board reads “For classes 9 and 11, schools must take necessary steps to identify and remedy learning gaps and thereafter conduct the annual examinations by strictly following COVID-19 guidelines as per the examination by-laws”.
The schools have also been advised to make all the necessary arrangements to start the regular classes, reopen the schools. Starting the traditional learning, i.e welcoming the students for face to face classes will help them to prepare for the upcoming practical and theory examinations. Furthermore, it will also be easier for the students to clear their doubts and improve their writing skills for the upcoming exams.
Schools across the nations were closed since March last year as part of restrictions put in place to curb the COVID-19 crisis. However, now several states have started to reopen their schools in phases from November 2020 onwards. On the other hand, the Delhi govt allowed the schools to call back classes 10 and 12 students from January 18, and those in classes 9 and 11 were allowed for the regular classes from February 5 for practical and remedial classes.
started reopening schools in phases from November 2020, while Delhi allowed schools to call back students of classes 10 and 12 from January 18, and those in classes 9 and 11 from February 5 for practicals and remedial classes.
Earlier, there was debate for the mode of conduct of class 9 and 11 annual examination. Various students had been calling in to conduct the Class 9 and Class 11 exam in online mode as they did not had any offline session in the year 2020. However, in a recent notification issued by CBSE controller of examinations Sanyam Bhardwaj, CBSE has asked the schools to conduct offline examinations by following the COVID-19 safety protocols. The board has also requested the parents to understand that offline examinations will help prepare their kids for the board classes next year and for competitive exams.
As per a media report, a senior official in the Delhi government education department commented that a date sheet for mid-term exams for classes 9 and 11 has already been issued and the exams are scheduled to be held between March 20 and April 15 in offline mode. However, it may be unfeasible to begin the next session from April 1.
The CBSE has earlier released the date sheet for classes 10th and 12th board examination 2021. The exams are scheduled to be held from May 4 to June 10. However, in an unfortunate turn of events, CBSE class 12 candidates in the Bio-Math combination are a bit worried as their board exam will clash with the JEE Main 2021 Exam which is scheduled in May. As per the CBSE date sheet 2021 released, the biology exam will be held on May 24, and JEE Main 2021 exam is scheduled from May 24 to 28. This year, as per the media reports, it is expected that around 5 lakh students shall appear in the JEE Main 2021 Exam, and also a good number of CBS class 12th students will appear in it.
Students and teachers from all over the state have put forth their demand to National testing Agency (NTA) to consider changing the rescheduling schedule for the last session to enable the students to prepare for the biology exam. Addressing to this issue an official from NTA has clarified to a leading portal that students who have exams on May 24 will not be given a slot for JEE (Main) on the same day, dismissing any possibility of any clashes.
