New Delhi: Central Board of Secondary Education, CBSE has decided to cancel the Class 10, 12 Board exams 2020 scheduled from July 1 to July 15, 2020. The board would instead be assessing the students based on the scores of previous three examinations and declaring the class 10, 12 results by July 15. CBSE Class 12 students, however, would have an option to appear for the remaining papers later when the situation is conducive. For Class 10 students, however, no such option is available.
Supreme Court bench led by J AM Khanwilkar heard the plea seeking cancellation of remaining CBSE exams due to COVID19. CBSE has clarified that Class 10 exams are cancelled and the marks awarded based on criterion specified by CBSE would be final. CBSE Class 12 students would have the option to appear for the exams at a later date.
CBSE to Supreme Court: SG Mehta, stated to the Supreme Court that the board has filed an affidavit, taking into consideration the reports submitted by the states. In effect, the board has decided not to conduct the exams from July 1. Speaking in the court, SG said, “Our affidavit filed half an hour back states that taking into account suggestion from States, exam for Class 10 and 12 from July 1 stands cancelled.” He further added that all the Class 10 examinations have been cancelled. Class 12 examination, however, is optional. “CBSE has a scheme in which marks scored in past 3 exams will be taken into account. For Class 12, the exams will be conducted “as soon as the situation is conducive. Marks for the students who opt for the class 12 examination will have that marks as final.”
CBSE Class 12 students would have to share their decision on whether to opt for the examination at a later date or to accept the marks based on the three previous examinations, as scored by the student. Supreme Court has directed CBSE to reword its reply to ensure that there is no confusion in the minds of the student and the parents.
CBE Board Exams: A chronology of events: Few papers of CBSE 10th, 12th Board Exams 2020 were left when the schools and colleges were closed. Exams from March 19 to March 31 were deferred till April, and then postponed by the HRD Ministry as a nationwide lockdown was announced on March 25. These exams were then deferred and scheduled to be conducted between July 1 and July 15.
CBSE had shared its intent to cancel the exams abroad and to conduct exams for only 29 subjects out of the remaining lot. The board released the date sheet for the exams in May. Parents, however, quickly opposed the move. Concerns increased when the COVID19 cases spiralled in the country. At present, India has 4.73 lakh cases. As per the latest bulletin, India has reported 4,73,105 positive cases which include 1,86,514 active cases, 2,71,697 cured/discharged and 14,894 deaths.
With the pandemic situation particularly sever in Delhi and Mumbai, which incidentally also have a large number of CBSE students, the uneasiness increased as the dates got closer. Taking cognizance of the PIL filed, SC had then asked CBSE to ‘reconsider’ its decision to conduct the exams in July.
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