CBSE will hold class 12 exams as soon as the conditions are conducive for students who opt to appear for the exams.
AMN / Staff Reporter / New Delhi
Examinations for class X and XII scheduled for July 1-15 have been cancelled, Central Board of Secondary Education CBSE told Supreme Court today.
Class 10 and Class 12 exams to be held from July 1 in schools across India have been cancelled, education board CBSE informed the Supreme Court today.
Delhi, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have conveyed their inability to conduct examinations in the coronavirus crisis, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBSE, said in court.
Supreme Court asked CBSE if it will give students the option to appear for the exams later or will declare result on the basis of internal assessment Marks.
CBSE replied that the option to appear for exams later will be given to class 12 students. Class 10 exams, which were to be held only for North-East Delhi students, are cancelled. The board told Supreme Court that it has come up with an evaluation scheme where class 12 students will be assessed on the basis of last three exams.
The top court also heard the matter for remaining ICSE and ISC exams. CISCE has agreed to cancel class 10 and 12 exams but will not provide the option to take the exam later. CISCE will also follow internal assessment system to declare results.
CBSE will hold class 12 exams as soon as the conditions are conducive for students who opt to appear for the exams.
Supreme Court also sought clarification on the new academic year and said that the new academic year can start only in September if board results are announced in August. CBSE said that students can apply for basic assessment and board results will be announced in mid-August. The board also said that academic year will be shifted for the 2020-21 session.
The petitioner’s advocate told Supreme Court that Maharashtra, Delhi, and Odisha have conveyed their inability to conduct exams. They also informed the court that several entrance exams are also pending. The petitioner sought intervention for entrance exams as well. However, Supreme Court refused to deal with the issue at this stage.
Supreme Court asked Solicitor General appearing for CBSE if the state boards were accounted for in the decision. The top court said that the decision regarding baord exams has to be pan-India and asked centre for a time frame in which it will come to a conclusive decision.
Solicitor General said that the exams are controlled centrally and state boards assist CBSE. The top court then asked centre to modify the draft notification and include State Boards as well.
Supreme Court then posted the matter for another hearing tomorrow and directed CBSE to issue fresh notification regarding exams and assessment method.
Three judge bench of Justices A.M. Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and Sanjiv Khanna was hearing a plea filed by parents seeking a stay on the board exam for remaining papers which were scheduled in July.
The Court was, however, informed that optional Class XII exams may be conducted when the situation improves. Students who opt out of taking these exams will be assessed on the basis of previous exams.
Taking a cue from the CBSE’s stand, the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) also said that it would cancel this year’s Board exams.