For many generations, students have been spending their high school years preparing for the much-feared board examinations of Class 10. The maiden tryst with the real fear of the examinations, various centres, admit cards, results, mark sheet, certificates, coupled with the most heard and unsolicited comment and opinion from parents, teachers, friends, and relatives has been “board ka saal hai”, “all set for the boards?”, “How much do you think you can score?” so on and so forth.

With the resurgence of Covid-19, schools have been shut in most parts of the country. The CBSE & ICSE board exams 2021 are cancelled for class 10 and postponed for class 12 due to the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. The situation would be reviewed on June 1 and a decision on the class 12 board exams will be taken hereafter.

The decision taken to scrap off class 10 Board exams wipes off the dreams and aspirations of students and parents. The preparation for class 10 Boards start as early as class 6, where in the teachers start preparing a CBSE student to face the Boards in few years time. It’s a continuous process, wherein new teaching methodology is introduced from Grade 6. Senior years from class IX are crucial and a lot of effort is put in by Students, teachers and Parents. It’s the team effort of the school and parents’ community to build up the portfolio of a student and make them ready- both physically and emotionally.

The abrupt decision right before the commencement of the exams are sure landing the students into depression. The midnight oil that they have burnt, the study hours they have put in school, coaching has all gone to drain. The holding of the result card will not be the same if they were allowed to take the exams – maybe online, under strict supervision. We must boost the students, show trust in them and do keep the online exams rather than just cancelling them. India is proud of laborious students. We have no dearth of sincere students. We must encourage them and not demotivate them. Also, the ones, we don’t believe in- let’s not give them easy. Exams should be held- online keeping the situation in mind, under strict supervision. Both parents and educators should hold hands at this time.

Considering the current scenario, where our country does not have enough online provisions throughout the country, it is a practical move. In the entire year of the pandemic, we have not been able to develop our country’s education system to provide access to education to students all over the country. Had we been prepared for it, the schools could have made online provisions for the same.

Another problem among the students after the cancellation of exams is going to be in their near future. The decision of choosing the stream for Class 11 will be not much serious, and this will make a big difference in the Class 12 boards, and then the whole career will get into a big toss because students did not have to appear the Class 10 boards and got promoted with ease or all sorts of malpractices they used during the online pre-boards and other internal assessments.

Calamities and challenges are a part of life. Escapism may not be the appropriate response in these times. A scientific approach to the conduct of these exams has to be considered. Learning is hard work and those who have toiled should not be deprived of their chance to shine.

• Decision unfair for those who worked hard
• Delayed exams can hamper students’ future
• Students frustrated by changing decisions
• Cancellation not solution; postponement better
• Unfair to students as well as teachers who have worked hard

• Postponing exams gives more time to study
• Students will be less tense about virus
• Postponing exam need of the hour
• Std XII exams should be cancelled too
   

1. With the increase in Covid-19 cases, schools are now shut in many states of India.
2. After a lot of discussions and debates, CBSE & ICSE board exams 2021 are cancelled for class 10 and postponed for class 12
3. The situation would be reviewed on June 1 and a decision on the class 12 board exams will be taken thereafter.
4. The decision taken to scrap off class 10 Board exams wipes off the dreams and aspirations of students and parents.
5. Cancelling board exams entirely is going to hamper the future of students in a long run.

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