New Delhi: The Centre on Tuesday announced that the CBSE Board Class 12th examinations have been cancelled. The decision comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a review meeting regarding the Class 12th Board exams of CBSE earlier in the day.
During the meeting, officials gave a detailed presentation on the wide and extensive consultation held so far and views received from all stakeholders, including State governments.
In view of the uncertain conditions due to COVID and the feedback obtained from various stakeholders, it was decided that Class 12 Board Exams would not be held this year.
It was also decided that CBSE will take steps to compile the results of class XII students as per well-defined objective criteria in a time-bound manner.
Read:| PM Modi to chair meeting on prospect of Class 12th exams today
The Prime Minister said that the decision on Class 12 CBSE Exams has been taken in the interest of students. He stated that COVID-19 has affected the academic calendar and the issue of Board Exams has been causing immense anxiety among students, parents and teachers, which must be put to an end.
PM said that the Covid situation is a dynamic situation across the country.
"While the numbers are coming down in the country and some states are managing the situation through effective micro-containment, 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 stated.
PM said that students should not be forced to appear for exams in such a stressful situation.
The Prime Minister stressed that the health and safety of our students is of utmost importance and there would be no compromise on this aspect.
He said that in today’s time, such exams cannot be the reason to put our youth at risk.
PM said that all stakeholders need to show sensitivity to students. PM directed officials to ensure that the results are prepared in accordance with well-defined criteria, in a fair and time-bound manner.
Referring to the wide consultative process, PM expressed appreciation that a student-friendly decision has been reached after consulting all stakeholders from across the length and breadth of India. He also thanked the States for providing feedback on this issue.
Read:| Decision on Class 12 board exams to be taken at the earliest: Minister
It was also decided that like last year, in case some students desire to take the exams, such an option would be provided to them by CBSE, as and when the situation becomes conducive.
The meeting chaired by PM Modi was attended by Union Ministers including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Prakash Javadekar, Railways Minister Piyush Goyal, Textiles Minister Smriti Irani, Petroleum, Natural Gas and Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, along with senior officials including Secretary of School Education and Higher Education.
On Monday, the Supreme Court has adjourned hearing of plea seeking directions to the Centre, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) to cancel the CBSE, ICSE Class 12 examinations after the Central government sought time till Thursday.
The Central government told the Supreme Court that it will take a final decision on the issue of conducting or cancelling the Class 12 CBSE, ICSE Board exam in two days and sought time till Thursday to place its decision before the court.
A bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar adjourned the case to June 3 while observing a similar situation last year prompted internal marking instead.
The Bench asked the Centre to take its time to make a decision. It, however, asked the Centre to give some good and tangible reason if it decides to depart from last year's decision when it agreed to cancel the examination due to Covid-19.
(with agency inputs)
