As the COVID-19 graph continues to rise, the remaining exams for Classes 10 and 12 students in schools associated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Council for Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) will not be conducted as scheduled in July.
Students would then be measured through a different, special grading system. If they are not happy with the results based on this method, they can appear for the test if it is scheduled later.
Though, CBSE Class 10 students do not have the second option — for them, the remaining exams have been canceled.
The Board and the Council told the Supreme Court of that judgment on Thursday at the hearing of a plea requesting cancelation of the pending exams. The tests, which were postponed in March owing to the pandemic, were then expected to take place between July 1 and July 15.
By 15 July, the CBSE must declare the results on the basis of the marking system so that students may apply for admission to higher education institutions on time. Class 12 students will also be entitled to take part in the optional exams to boost their results, which will be carried out by CBSE as soon as circumstances are favorable. However, if the student chooses the latter, the marks secured in the optional examinations will be treated as final.
The government is also exploring the idea of requesting all higher education institutions not to close their admissions cycle before students who want to appear for the optional board exams.
The CISCE students will be evaluated on performance in school assessment and will have the opportunity to appear for the exam at a later date to improve their marks — in this case, students of both Classes 10 and 12 will have a shot at improvement.
The CBSE’s decision was taken in consultation with the HRD Ministry based on the inputs of an internal expert committee. The Home Ministry also approved the CBSE’s stand before the Supreme Court Thursday.
The Board’s expert committee referred to a number of logistical challenges related to the pandemic to advise against holding the remaining tests. It also cited letters from the governments of Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Maharashtra to the Center demanding cancelation or postponement of the examination.
