Karnataka government has today, June 04, 2021, decided to cancel the second-year pre-university (II PU) exams 2021 while conducting the SSLC exams in the third week of July 2021. The Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) or Class 10 board exams shall be conducted for two components – one covering the three core subjects and the other covering languages. However, students who are not able to appear for the exams in July 2021 due to Covid-related reasons can appear for the supplementary exams later.
Karnataka is the first state to cancel the Class 12 board exams but conduct the Class 10 exams. Most central and state education boards had resorted to cancelling their Class 10 exams and using alternate evaluation methodology. They had considered conducting Class 12 board exams in July or August 2021 but have now decided to cancel them as well. However, Karnataka has done the exact opposite, even after requests from students to cancel board exams altogether.
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The II PU 2021 or Class 12 board exams shall not be conducted this year. Instead, students shall be evaluated based on the Class 10 and I PU or Class 11 marks. Subsequently, the state education board is expected to announce the results between June 25 and 30, 2021. The results shall be announced in the form of a student gradation list, as reported by authorities.
As regards Class 10 board exams, the Karnataka education board shall conduct two exams. One exam will cover questions from Mathematics, Science and Social Science. The second exam shall contain questions from languages. However, the state government clarified that these exams shall be held not to fail any Class 10 students but merely to evaluate them.
After due consideration, the board is expected to conduct the SSLC 2021 exams in the third week of July 2021. However, a review shall be conducted on the COVID19 situation in the state before releasing the revised exam schedule. However, students who are unable to appear for exams on the scheduled days can do so later. The state shall organise supplementary exams for such Covid-affected students.
The Karnataka Education Minister S. Suresh Kumar announced the decision regarding II PU and SSLC 2021 exams today. According to him, the state was prepared to conduct the Class 12 exams amid the current circumstances. However, students had a divided opinion which made them cancel the II PU exams. Decision was also taken after considering the views of all stakeholders as they too, had a divided opinion.
Kumar went onto clarify the state’s decision on SSLC exams by announcing that only vaccinated teachers shall be assigned as invigilators. Earlier, the state government was adamant on conducting the Class 12 board exams as well. However, after CBSE announced its decision to cancel the board exams, students demanded a similar decision from the Karnataka state board.
