New Delhi: The government on June 1 decided to cancel the CBSE Class 12 board exams amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic across the country, ending a period of intense anxiety among students and parents.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Modi in which it was decided that the CBSE will take steps to compile the results of Class 12 students as per a “well-defined objective criteria in a time-bound manner.”
Earlier in the day, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had said that the exams should be cancelled. The CBSE had on April 14 announced cancellation of Class 10 exams and postponement of Class 12 exams in view of surge in coronavirus cases.
The Ministry of Education had recently sought detailed suggestions from states and union territories on proposals amidst widespread expression of anxiety among students and parents on the exams.
The government had informed the Supreme Court, which is hearing a plea seeking the exam’s cancellation, that it will take a final decision by June 3.
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With the decision coming amid a high caseload of COVID-19 cases in several states and continuing health-related apprehensions about the future, Modi said the health and safety of students “were of utmost importance, and there would be no compromise on this aspect.”
“Anxiety among students, parents and teachers must be put to an end, and students should not be forced to appear for exams in such a stressful situation,” a government statement quoted the prime minister as saying.
Modi further asserted that all stakeholders need to show sensitivity for the students as well as their parents and teachers.
Modi said at the meeting that COVID-19 has affected the academic calendar and the issue of board examinations has been causing immense anxiety among students, parents and teachers, which must be put to an end.
He said the COVID-19 situation is dynamic across the country, and that the number of cases is coming down with some states managing the situation through effective micro-containment, while some states have still opted for a lockdown.
Students, parents and teachers are naturally worried about the health of the students in such a situation, he said, adding that students should not be forced to appear for exams in such a stressful situation.
(With PTI inputs)