CBSE Class 12 Board Examinations may be cancelled; decision expected on May 17

Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases across the country have been on a rise and keeping the same in mind, several state governments have cancelled the board examinations for Class 10 (SSC) and Class 12 (HSC) students. Amidst this surge, there has been a demand to cancel the CBSE board examinations for Class 12 students, however, no decision regarding the same has been taken yet.

As per reports, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank is said to discuss this with other officials in a  meeting scheduled on Monday, May 17, and shall announce the same soon. Interactions will be held with the respective state education secretaries Monday, where the team will review the effect of coronavirus spread across India.

In a conversation with ANI, an official from the education ministry said, "Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank will meet virtually all state education secretaries on Monday. The top agenda of the meeting will be COVID -19 pandemic and its impact on education, promotion of online education, implementation of the New Education policy and preparation made by states."

On May 14, 2021, an advocate Mamta Sharma filed a petition with the Supreme Court demanding the cancellation of CBSE board examinations for Standard 12. She mentioned that owing to the ongoing second wave of the pandemic, both online and offline exams were not possible, and delay in decision or results could affect the students. She demanded the board, both CBSE and CISCE. to decide ways of declaring the results for the 12-lakh students this year. 

The ministry earlier cancelled the Class 10 board examinations for CBSE students, however the exams for Class 12 were rescheduled and expected to begin on May 4, 2021. Rumours about the examinations being cancelled had spread earlier, but the officials clarified the same stating that they were speculations made by media publications.

Officials are also expected to discuss ways to implement the New Education Policy (NEP) in the upcoming academic year along with various matters related to the online education owing to COVID-19.