Modalities will be worked out in consultation with MHA, Health Min
Setting aside speculation about the mode and schedule of board examinations, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank on Tuesday stated that the CBSE board examinations will be held offline only and that no exams, including practicals, will be held before the end of February 2021.
During a virtual interaction with teachers from across the country, Nishank said more modalities on the board exams and other entrance tests like JEE and NEET will be worked upon in consultation with the Home and Health Ministries. He made it clear that the board exams will not be cancelled.
“The Classes 10 and 12 CBSE board exams 2021 will not be held in January and February. The exact exam schedule will be decided after February 2021,” said Nishank.
“I received a lot of requests from various #students & #teachers to postpone @cbseindia29 board #exams for Class 10 & 12. Keeping the #COVID19 pandemic in mind & after various consultations, we have decided that #board exams will not be held in February,” he tweeted later.
“Exact dates will be announced soon. Our govt is in favour of #students,” he said in another tweet.
Nishank earlier interacted with students regarding entrance exams and online classes.
The main issues that are causing much unease among students, teachers, and parents are the dates of CBSE and State board exams, syllabus, and exam patterns.
Addressing the live webinar with teachers, Nishank said cancelling the exams and promoting students will result in “putting a stamp on these students” and these students might face trouble in getting jobs and admissions at higher education level in future.
On the mode of 2021 board exams, Nishank said many CBSE schools are in rural areas and hence online examinations are not possible.
“The exam will be conducted offline as we need a laptop and stable internet and electricity for each student which is a challenge,” said the Minister.
On the syllabus issue, Nishank said there would be 30 per cent syllabus cut while there would be 33 per cent internal choice in the board exams.
As part of the Central Government initiative to conduct examinations on time amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the Union Education Minister has planned a three-way dialogue with the students, parents and teachers across the country.
“Online education has become a big challenge for students who have not attended schools and colleges for the last nine months owing to Covid-19 pandemic. But the students should always be ready to turn this challenge into an opportunity,” the Minister said.
“The biggest challenge is to study with stronger determination and will and declaration of board results on time so that a full academic year of students is not wasted,” he said in one of the response.
Nishank acknowledged that even though this year’s curriculum incorporated online schooling, it might have not been fair to all the students set to appear for board examinations in 2021. Therefore, CBSE Class 10 and 12 Board exams will be held offline.
Last week the National Testing Agency (NTA) released new rules for JEE Main 2021 exams. According to the new rules, candidates who appeared for JEE Main 2019 or JEE Main Advanced 2019 will not be allowed to appear for JEE exams 2021. The NTA had said a candidate can attempt JEE (Advanced) a maximum of two times in consecutive years whether or not he/she has passed the qualifying examination (JEE Main).
From the commencing academic year, candidates will have an opportunity to take the exam four times a year, i.e., in February, March, April, and May. Applicants would be allowed to appear in all four attempts and the best of two attempts will be considered for the final merit list.
Wednesday, 23 December 2020 | PNS | new Delhi
