CBSE Class XII board examinations canceled due to COVID-19
The central government on Tuesday decided to cancel the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class XII board examinations. The decision was taken after Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review the possibility of conducting the examination amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Originally, the exams were scheduled to be held between May-June, but they had to be postponed.
Students will be given option to take exams
The PM's office (PMO) said that the Class XII examinations have been canceled in view of the "uncertain conditions due to COVID-19." The CBSE will take steps to compile results of Class XII students as per well-defined objective criteria in a time-bound manner. Students who still wish to take the exams will be allowed to do so when the situation becomes conducive.
COVID-19 caused immense anxiety among students, parents, teachers: Modi
According to the PMO, Modi observed during the meeting that COVID-19 had affected the academic calendar. This caused immense anxiety among students, parents, and teachers, the PMO's statement quoted Modi as saying, adding that "the PM said that students should not be forced to appear for exams in such a stressful situation." Modi also noted that the COVID-19 situation is dynamic, the statement added.
Centre was earlier considering alternative methods
Before the Centre decided to cancel the exams, facing pressure from parents and states, it was considering alternative ways to conduct the board exams. One idea was to conduct the exams for major subjects within three months, while another aimed to conduct shorter 90-minute exams for major subjects in two phases. It had asked states to submit their suggestions by May 25.
'Exams canceled to safeguard health, future of youth'
After the announcement, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, "PM Modi today announced to cancel Class XII CBSE board exams with a view to safeguard the health and future of the youth." Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia, who had earlier pushed to cancel the exams, said, "This decision is in favor of students and teachers...Students should be evaluated on their earlier performances."
Class X exams were canceled in April
The examinations for Class X had already been canceled in April, when the postponement of the Class XII exams was announced. Both exams were previously scheduled to be held in May and June, however, India faced a brutal second wave of COVID-19 in April-May.
Last year's exams were postponed, then canceled
Last year, the board examinations had to be postponed mid-way in March. The exams were eventually canceled as the pandemic progressed and the students were graded on the basis of an alternative assessment scheme. Competitive examinations such as the JEE and NEET were also postponed twice last year due to the pandemic when India witnessed its first wave of COVID-19.
