In the wake of the second wave of coronavirus pandemic, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Tuesday decided to call off the class 12^th board exams of 2021.

The decision to cancel the exams was taken in the high-powered meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to review all the possible methods of conducting exams.

However, now, the Centre and CBSE has put a full stop to the confusion and announced “this year Class 12 Board Exams will not take place as students’ safety is our primary concern.”

On one hand, the cancellation of Class 12th Board Exams 2021 has come as a sigh of relief for the students and parents perhaps, top educationists are worried as the future of the students could be at stake. 

In lieu to obtain answers to the questions that might create suspicion in the students’ minds, True Scoop took an initiative to contact prominent educational leader including Mrs. Rashmi Vij, Principal, Police DAV School, Jalandhar, among others.

In an exclusive interview with these experts, we have tried to pitch the answers related to the assessment of Class 12^th board exams and their impact on the competitive exams.

Q1. How will the assessment be done for the canceled exams?

Ans: According to Mrs. Vij, “Just like Class 10th assessment, Class 12th assessment can be done the same way or maybe result can be on the basis of last three years grades too.”

According to another expert, “Due to the havoc, the second wave of pandemic wreaked, a few of the practical exams are yet to be completed. For the assessment, the schools would abide by the CBSE guidelines.”

Q2. Class 12^th board exams are considered pivotal in shaping the student’s career path. How do you see its cancellation in relation to their future goals?

Ans. “This is definitely not fair with the bright students who have been working really hard for their boards as it is evident that a student mostly attains 10% higher score than the 11th class result or their pre-boards as they work harder for the board exams,” said Mrs. Vij.

“It comes as a major setback for the students. If the online study can be there, why cannot online exams? Wouldn’t it be unfair for them who have studied seriously during their online classes,” said another expert.

Q3. Will the cancellation of exams have an impact on competitive exams?

Ans. As per Mrs. Vij, “It is time that the higher educational institutes must cope with it in a way that it doesn’t affect anyone’s career amidst the pandemic. As 12^th class scores also have a fair share in order to get enrolled in a renowned institute, this time the students should only be evaluated on the basis of entrance exams.”

“The decision will definitely have an impact on the competitive cum entrance exams, it might be dicey for the students as the Class 12^th grades are the base to embark on the career,” another expert said.

Meanwhile, on the results, PM Modi said, “it be prepared on the basis of well-defined criteria, in a fair and time-bound manner.”

According to the sources, the results will be prepared on the basis of the internal assessment of class 9^th, 10^th, and 11^th.  However, so far, no formula or a particular methodology has been revealed by the Ministry to calibrate the results.