S. Vishnu Sharma
CBSE 12th board exam for 2021 is now the talk of the town as a big question is confronting all of us.
What bothers all of us currently is whether the 12th class exams of CBSE for 2021 will be conducted as per the schedule or not?
There is a reason to all that is happening right now.
This year too much like the previous year was not smooth sailing for academic world of this country.
Board exams for classes 10 and 12 have been planned this year too just like the previous year.
However, they could not be conducted last year as per the actually planned schedule owing to corona virus outbreak.
CBSE 12th board exam
Things did not remain different this year too. This year is witnessing the outbreak of second wave of infections across the country.
More than 10 state education boards have postponed the exams for classes 10 and 12. A few have even cancelled 10th class exams.
The decision to postpone exams was taken keeping in view the rising infections across the nation.
The idea behind the decision was to keep students and exam staff out of danger.
The same idea even led to postponement of competitive exams for government recruitment and higher education admission.
The rising corona infections have cast a doubt in all minds over the possibilities of conducting CBSE 12th board exam.
However, no announcement has come so far regarding the 12th class exams till now and that has caused good deal of confusion among the parents and students.
The possibilities for conducting CBSE 12th board exam appear remote under the present circumstances on one hand.
On the other hand, there is no announcement regarding the CBSE 12th board exam while the talk about postponing it is growing stronger.
Students and parents who are stuck amidst this situation are only confused.
Veteran educationists are of the view that students and parents should not hurry to jump to conclusions as no announcement regarding cancellation of CBSE 12th board exam for this year is made.
‘T. Santhamurthy, a retired Physics teacher says students must not hurry to conclude that exams are cancelled just because the prospects for the cancellation of CBSE 12th board exam appearing bright.
‘They should stick to their preparation until there is a message from the authorities concerned.’
Let us not forget that there has been no announcement from Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) so far, says M. Ramanathan, a Chemistry teacher for 12th class.
So it would not be okay to presume that CBSE 12th board exam for this year is cancelled, he adds.
A decision has to be made with regards to CBSE 12th board exam and that has to be done after much thought.
CBSE 12th board exam is of significance to students, says S.K. Gurumurthy, a maths teacher for class 12.
‘Good performance in this exam is essential if entry into higher education is to be made.’ Whatever decision has to come, has to come after much thought.
Sources say, the decision about CBSE 12th board exam is likely to be made by 24 or 25 May.
Many educationists are also of the view that delay in decision too may have not so good consequences.
Staying away from taking a decision and keeping the students in contemplation too is not good as it can have a bad impact over their future.
Sooner the decision regarding CBSE 12th board exam is made, the better it is, said T. Seethalakshmi, a retired teacher.
Sources also say a case has been filed in nation’s top court seeking the cancellation of CBSE 12th board exam for this year.
The opinions of people are divided over the issue of CBSE 12th board exam.
Not all are favour conducting the exams now, at the sametime, not everyone wishes postponement also.
CBSE 12th board exam was to start from May 4 and go on till June 14. In a notice issued last month, CBSE said the situation would be reviewed on 1 June and then a decision would be made.
The wise thing would be to wait and watch. Students meanwhile can visit the official website of CBSE at ‘https://www.cbse.gov.in/cbsenew/cbse.html’ for regular updates and stick to the preparation till the announcement is made.