Delay in the 2020 academic session due to COVID-19 pandemic seems to have shift its effect for the year 2021 too. Maharashtra and Gujarat states have postponed 2021 board examinations from March to May. The official authorities of the respective boards said that it will be impossible for them to conduct 10th, 12th board exams in two or three months. Now, all the eyes are on CBSE to announce if the board exams are postponed or not.
Maharashtra Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad confirmed that the Maharashtra board exams 2021 for classes 10 and 12 would be impossible to conduct before May 2021. Furthermore, the state govt has decided to reopen schools from November 23. On the other hand, the Gujarat state government has also decided to hold the GSEB board exams 2021 for both the classes in May instead of February-March.
Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) have yet to take a call for the schedule of the board exams. Secretary, CBSE, Anurag Tripathi told the media that “it is too early to decide”. Generally, the central and state boards start conducting the class 10th, 12th examinations in the month of March, however, this year in the view of the pandemic situation many boards are reassessing the schedule of the examination.
As per some media sources, CBSE is looking at all alternatives to conduct the exam as it will have to take a final call in consultation with other boards like the CISCE and state boards. Back in October month, CBSE hinted that the board exams shall get delayed 45-60 days in the year 2021. Also recently, school principals and teachers showed their concern to not to postpone the exam as it will further delay in conducting of the competitive exams like JEE Main and NEET.
Additionally, many state boards have decreased the syllabus of class 9th to 12th by 30% so that students can prepare for the exam better and there is no mental pressure on them. Though online classes have been started and teachers are trying to complete the syllabus as soon as possible, there are still some students who are unable to get the full access of the online cases due to the financial situation in their family.
Many health officials have hinted that Delhi will witness a third wave of the coronavirus due to an increase in air pollution and winter. Few states have started opening the schools, however, the number of students going for normal classes is very less in number. The number of COVID-19 cases is increasing back again in many states and the situation is not normalized yet. Hence, the board officials need to assess the current situation befoe making any decision regarding the board exam schedule.
