Tamil Nadu State Education Department is willing to conduct the Class 12 board exams for the current academic year 2020-21 once the situation stabilises. The same message was reiterated during the high-level virtual meeting convened on Sunday, May 23, 2021, by the Education Minister of India, Mr Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’. The Tamil Nadu state board exams for Class 12 were postponed indefinitely due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases. However, as the situation in India has begun to normalise, Class 12 board exams are likely to be conducted in the state.
On May 23, 2021, the Union Government conducted a meeting with the education ministers and education secretaries of all states. The meeting was conducted from 11:30 pm in online mode. The primary motive of the meeting was to discuss the various alternatives for conducting the Class 12 board exams. Mr Pokhriyal is expected to announce the final decision regarding CBSE Class 12 board on June 01, 2021. At around the same day, a revised exam schedule shall be released.
The state governments were given a choice to conduct their board exams if the circumstances are conducive. Responding to this, the Tamil Nadu education department conveyed their affirmation on conducting the board exams for Class 12 students. Each state was also asked to submit a detailed report on the board exams on or before May 25, 2021.
According to Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, the school education minister of Tamil Nadu, the central government primarily discussed the CBSE Class 12 board exams and whether to conduct them in July or August 2021. Thereafter, each state gave their own views on the topic at hand. These views were also influenced by the prevailing conditions in each state.
According to Poyyamozhi, Class 12 exams are important from an academic standpoint. They influence the higher studies and careers of all students. No purpose will be achieved by directly promoting all of them to higher standards. Moreover, all states are supporting the decision of conducting exams. Therefore, Tamil Nadu is in favour of conducting board exams for Class 12, the minister clarified.
Adding to this, the minister also said that they had certain doubts about conducting the exam using a new pattern. The state further asked the union government to provide more clarity on the new options available. Only after a proper discussion with the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, a consensus shall be reached. Currently, the state’s focus is to tackle the COVID19 situation.
Once, the state health department provides a report on the declining cases of COVID-19 in the state, a final decision shall be taken, the education minister clarified. Currently, schools in Chennai are planning to conduct a fourth round of revision tests from May 24 to June 01, 2021. Thereafter, unit tests shall be conducted to prepare students for the impending board exams. Meanwhile, CBSE and state board schools are already done with their Class 12 practical exams.
