Coronavirus: CBSE Postpones Class 10, 12 Board Exams Till March 31 Amid COVID-19 Outbreak

Coronavirus: The decision comes in compliance of the instruction received by the CBSE from Secretary of Department of Higher Education. School Education and Literacy.

(Photo by Amal KS/ Getty Images)

 New Delhi: New Delhi: In wake of COVID-19 breakout, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Wednesday postponed all board examinations for Class 10 and 12 and the JEE Mains examination scheduled between March 19 and March 31. This decision was taken when the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) directed the Board and all educational institutions in the country to postpone all exams till March 31. Minister of Human Resource Development Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said in a tweet: “ Keeping in view the health concerns of Students, I directed CBSE and NIOS to postpone exams and evaluation till 31st March 2020. I request all Students to follow the health advisory issued by @MoHFW_INDIA.”

Keeping in view the health concerns of Students, I directed CBSE and NIOS to postpone exams and evaluation till 31st March 2020. I request all Students to follow the health advisory issued by @MoHFW_INDIA.@narendramodi@PMOIndia @drharshvardhan@PIB_India @DDNewslive

— Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) March 18, 2020

"While the maintenance of academic calendar and exam schedule is important, equally important is safety and security of students, who are appearing in various examinations as also of their teachers and parents," HRD Secretary Amit Khare said in an official communication. "All ongoing examinations may be rescheduled after Marc 31. This would include CBSE, NIOS as also university exams. All evaluation work may be rescheduled after March 31," he said. "All ongoing examinations of the board for classes 10 and 12, being held in examination centres in India and abroad, and scheduled between 19.03.2020 to 31.03.2020 (both dates inclusive), shall be rescheduled after 31st March, 2020," a statement by CBSE read. The decision will also affect the examination schedule for candidates in northeast Delhi who could not appear in exams due to violence in the region. The board added that during this period, the evaluation process will also remain suspended. "Rescheduled dates will be communicated by the board to all its stakeholders by March 31 after re-assessment of the situation," the board said. Of the total 152 confirmed cases reported from India, 14 people have been cured and discharged from the hospital while three lost their lives.