The surge in Covid-19 cases in the country has forced the government to rethink conducting CBSE board exams as per schedule on May 4th 2021.
The education ministry and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is considering whether board exams need to be deferred as school and students are wondering if conducting the exams 20 days from now is a feasible idea.
A senior official from the Ministry of Education official was quoted by TOI as saying: “The only point of discussion are the dates as the number of cases are rising. There are still around three weeks left and developments, including an increase in the number of Covid infections and containment zones, are being discussed as part of assessing the situation. The primary discussion point is the safety of the students and teachers and that will not be compromised.”
According to an Indian Express report, the government is open to reconsidering the exams dates, it is however too early to say what changes they might make. Earlier this month the government reiterated that the exams will be conducted as per schedule.
On Monday, Maharashtra Education Ministry announced that the exams would be deferred. “Given the current Covid-19 situation in Maharashtra, we have postponed the state board exams for Class 10th and 12th. Class 12th exams will be held by the end of May, while 10th standard exams will be in June. Fresh dates will be announced accordingly,” Varsha Gaikwad said.
"We'll also be writing to the CBSE, ICSE, IB, Cambridge boards, requesting them to reconsider their exams dates," she added.
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Last week, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wrote a letter to Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank saying it's 'shocking' that the CBSE has decided to go ahead with exams despite parents expressing fears and 'apprehensions' about assembling at exam centres in the middle of the second wave of the pandemic.
"It will be practically impossible to ensure the safety of students at large and at crowded exam centres. Additionally, given the nature and the spread of the virus, it is not just the students who will be at risk but also their teachers, invigilators and family members who are in contact with them," Priyanka said.
"Aside from this, by forcing the children to sit for these exams during a raging pandemic, the Government and the CBSE board will be held responsible in the event that any of the exam centres prove to be hotspots at which large numbers of children become infected with the disease," she added.
Meanwhile, the Yogi Adityanath government announced that all educational institutions like schools, colleges and coaching centres will remain closed until April 30th 2021. The government, however, added the pre-scheduled exam will continue as decided.
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