The uncertainty looming over Class 12 exam has not ended yet. The Class 10 board exams were cancelled and the class 12 board exams scheduled in May-June were postponed in view of the aggressive second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
The ICSE and CBSE board had decided to cancel the class 10 exams in order to ensure the safety of students. Thereafter, many states have followed suit and decided to cancel class 10 examinations for their respective boards. However, the decision on conducting the Class 12 exams, in several states, is yet to be made.
ICSE
Class 12 / Indian School Certificate (ISC) board examination was deferred by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE). This decision was taken in the wake of rising COVID-19 cases in the country.
Now, as per the latest update, the CICSE board has asked its affiliated schools to submit data including the average of marks obtained by class 12 students in class 11 and during this session, according to an official letter.
The board had postponed class 12 exams which were scheduled from May 4 in light of the aggressive second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A large section of students and parents have been demanding cancellation of the exams but the board has not announced any decision yet.
The Central government told the Supreme Court that it will take a final decision on the issue of conducting or cancelling class 12 CBSE, ICSE Board exam in two days and sought time till Thursday to place its decision before the court.
CBSE
As a major relief to students, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) postponed the Class 12 board examinations.
The exams are proposed to be conducted between July 15 and August 26 and the result to be declared in September.
However, the Supreme Court on Monday adjourned a 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 XII examinations after the Central government sought time till Thursday.
Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is likely to delay its decision on the Class 12 Board Exam 2021. As per the report by NDTV, the decision will not be announced by the board today as the matter is sub-judice in Supreme Court.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad on Sunday said a decision on Class 12 board exams in the state, will be taken in a week's time.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday addressed the state. During the speech, Thackeray demanded a uniform education policy in the country and stressed the need for revolutionary decisions in the field of education in view of the pandemic.
"Education policy should be uniform for the country, especially for examinations that impact the future of students like Class 12. We have decided to cancel the Class 10 exams and will soon take a decision on the Class 12 exams. But I would appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take a call on having a uniform policy in the education sector," he said.
Uttar Pradesh
UP Board has proposed to take a 90-minute test of each subject for class 12 students in the second week of July, if feasible.
The detailed examinations scheduled for class 12 board examinations will be announced soon, UP's Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma said The Council's decision to cancel class 10 examinations would benefit over 29.94 lakh students, allowing their promotion to the next class, he said in an official statement.
Owing to "the importance of class 12 examinations" for students' future, they have been proposed to be held from the second week of July, if circumstances allow, the minister added.
The board's decision is in line with the Central Board of Secondary Education, which too has cancelled the class 10 examination all over the country and abroad and at present, is mulling over the desirability and feasibility of taking class 12 examinations.
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh, AP Inter Exams 2021 is expected to be conducted in July 2021, Times Now News reported. The timetable is expected soon.
Tamil Nadu
In a recent meeting with the union ministers and state education ministers to discuss the class 12 examinations, the Tamil Nadu state government has expressed its interest in conducting the TN Class 12 exams 2021 and said that the decision will be made based on the pandemic situation. The mode of conduction of the exams and the paper pattern has not been decided by the government yet.
Chhattisgarh
Exams for class 12 started from June 1 (today) to June 5 and students would be conducted in an 'exam from home' pattern, wherein students would be allowed to collect question papers from specified centres, take them home and submit the answer copies within five days, officials said.
Uttrakhand
Uttrakhand Board has postponed class 12 exams 2021. Now, as per the latest reports, the Uttarakhand government is likely to hold the Class 12 board exams in the last week of June or in the first week of July.
Jharkhand
Due to the surge in COVID-19 cases, Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) has postponed examinations of Class 12. Further decisions will be taken according to the situation after a review meeting which was scheduled for today.
Bihar
The Class 10 and Class 12 exams were already conducted
West Bengal
West Bengal will hold the Class 12 board examinations in the last week of July, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said recently.
The dates will be announced later by the respective boards, she said.
"We have decided to hold the secondary (Madhyamik) and higher secondary (Uccho Madhyamik) examinations... adhering to all COVID-19 safety protocols," Banerjee told reporters at the state secretariat.
Both the board examinations will be held at home centres and only for compulsory subjects, she said, adding, a detailed announcement will be made by Education Minister Bratya Basu.
"Examinations will be held in their own schools.
Students will feel at home and not have to travel in buses and public vehicles amid this pandemic," the CM said.
She also said that the timing of the examinations will be halved with more options for students while answering the tests.
"Question papers had already been set... In that case, a three-hour test will now be reduced to 1.5 hours and students will be given the option to answer five questions out of 10. This will help the boards and the examinees amid this tough situation," Banerjee said.
Over 12 lakh students are scheduled to sit for the Madhyamik Examinations, having seven compulsory subjects.
It will take seven days to complete the Class 10 exams, she said.
Over 8.5 lakh students are likely to appear for the higher secondary examinations with 15 compulsory subjects.
"Please take necessary measures in case adjustments are required. But, I do not want any extra pressure on the students," the chief minister said.
Banerjee said the decision to conduct the Class 12 examinations first was taken in view of students typically sitting for various entrance tests for higher studies.
Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh Board of Secondary Education (HPBOSE) postponed Class 12 board exams till further notice. As per the HT report, the board is planning to conduct the Class 12 exams in the third week of June if the Covid-19 situation improves in the state.
Odisha
Odisha’s Board of Secondary Education (BSE) has postponed the Class 12 board exams. Odisha government is likely to take a final decision on the CHSE (Council of Higher Secondary Education) exams very soon, based on the Supreme Court’s decision with regard to the CBSE Class 12 examination.
Gujarat
The Class 12 board examination will be held in July 2021 per the existing system. Meanwhile, Gujarat Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama told IE that the state is planning to vaccinate all those aged above 18 who will appear in the Class 12 state board exams due to begin July 1.
Assam
Assam Higher Secondary Education Council has said that the Class 12 board exam will be conducted in July as per the pattern set by CBSE.
Rajasthan
State Education Minister and PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasara said that the Rajasthan Education Board is looking for a window to conduct Class 10 and 12 board examination as soon as the Covid graph flattens in the state.
"Cancellation of exams will be unfair for those students who have studied hard to get admission in their dream institutes.
"Also, there needs to be a proper criterion to evaluate the performance of students. So we are looking for a favourable situation to conduct the exams," he said speaking exclusively to IANS.
Students and parents across the state are insisting on the cancellation of exams. However, Dotasara has ruled out any such apprehension and said that even if the board cancels Class 10 exams and sends students to Class 11, the classes, for the time being, are not taking place.
"In such a condition, students shall demand cancellation of exams yet again and their base will be weakened. So once the infection rate goes down, we have plans to hold the exams," he said, adding, "As such, there is no such plan of cancellation of board exams".
Madhya Pradesh
The decision with regard to the Class 12 board exams will be taken in the first week of June.
Karnataka
The state education minister, Suresh Kumar said that an appropriate decision on the Class 12 exams will be taken in some days after considering different aspects and suggestions from the centre. The Karnataka government has told the Centre that the II PUC (Class 12) exam in the state is being planned for July 2021 and the Board might opt for Plan B among the plausible options for CBSE Class 12 exam.
Punjab
Due to rising COVID-19 cases, the State Government is planning to conduct the Class 12 Board Exams 2021 for 3 Major Subjects. The exams are likely to be held in June.
Haryana
The Haryana Board of School Education (HBSE) said that the exams for HBSE Class 12 students will be held between June 15 and June 20.
Telangana
TS Class 12 board exams in the state are likely to be held between mid-July to September.
(With inputs from agencies)
