S. Vishnu Sharma
CBSE board exams are the subject of attention once again as dates for them are to be revealed by 6 pm of December 31.
According to a Ministry of Education (Government of India) announcement on Twitter, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank will announce the dates for CBSE board exams of 10th and 12th standards on 31 December.
This announcement on CBSE board exams for 2021 comes out amidst a situation where a lot of speculation about 10th and 12th standard exams to be held next year has begun doing rounds.
Twitter message of Education Ministry says ‘Union Minister of Education Shri @DrRPNishank
will announce the date when the exams will commence for students appearing for #CBSE board exams in 2021.
Follow the twitter handle ‘@DrRPNishank’ to stay updated!’
That is not all, another Twitter message by Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank says ‘I will announce the date when the exams will commence for students appearing for #CBSE board exams in 2021.’
The two Twitter announcements only means one thing that focus is slowly shifting towards CBSE board exams to be held next year.
This year (2020) has been a tumultous one indeed with for education sector in the country. Things proved no different with regards to economy also.
CBSE board exams could never be conducted as per the planned schedule during 2020.
First hinderance came in form of violent protests over Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
CBSE board exams could not be conducted as per the schedule particularly in the national capital.
CBSE board exams great dates to be out on Dec 31
While dates were decided and things began moving smooth with regards to conducting CBSE board exams this year, obstruction came in form of outbreak of corona virus.
Entire nation went into a phase of lockdown for more than five months leaving scant scope for conducting CBSE board exams.
As per the usual practise, the CBSE board exams are conducted between February and March, the time table for that is released in November.
However, the timetable release for CBSE board exams could not happen on time this year owing to COVID-19 situation.
The worry that bothered parents and students this year is likely to continue next year, says S. Krishna Kumar, a Physics teacher in a CBSE school.
COVID-19 situation caused enough concern this year and same is to make its repurcussions felt next year also, as many feel academic activities have begun in a delayed manner, he says.
A delayed start this year can also mean that very little time could be available for students to prepare for exams next year, says T. Meenakshi, also a teacher with a CBSE school.
It all now depends on the dates for CBSE board exams to be held next year, she says. The dates for the CBSE board exams in 2021 must be fixed in a manner that students get ample time, she says.
If there is some problem with the dates, then students may endup with little time for preparation.
This also means, there may be little time left even for syllabus completion, says Meenakshi.
Interestingly, there are students no less in number who are toeing on the sameline.
As far a students are concerned, they have been asking for more time to prepare for the CBSE board exams in 2021.
While Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank made an announcement that dates of CBSE board exams for 2021 will be revealed on 31 December, students have asked more time by suggesting the board exams have to be postponed till April or May.
Couple of other students are asking for further postponement to June. June would be a comfortable time, says S. Srinivasa Raghavan, a 10th student.
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Conducting CBSE board exams in June will give ample time for us to prepare, he says. Many other students have asked more time saying that their syllabus has not been completed.
It is interesting to note that Union Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank interacted with students and teachers through a webinar earlier.
On the first occasion he interacted with students, on the second occasion Union Minister interacted with teachers.
On both the occasions, Union Minister cleared doubts regarding CBSE board exams of 2021, competitive exams like JEE Mains and NEET 2021.
Some of the points mentioned in the meeting were that CBSE board exams would be conducted offline, students are likely to get more time from one exam to other in CBSE board exams.
He further said in the interaction that JEE Mains will be held four times in next year.
While interaction happened and announcements were made, one has to accept that clarity with regards to CBSE board exams of 2021 is still lacking.
Students, parents and teachers only pray that clarity should prevail at the earliest as far as CBSE board exams are concerned.
This will allow students to better prepare for the exams.
CBSE sample paper
As the talk about CBSE board exams of 2021 is gearing momentum, students can begin focusing on exams.
They can commence their preparation with help of sample question papers that are available on the website of CBSE at ‘http://cbseacademic.nic.in/#’
Once the website downloads after clicking the above mentioned link, candidates can see a menu written in white colour on green background.
Students can click ‘Sample Question Paper’ in that menu and see another menu coming out, they can choose ‘SQP 2020-2021.’
Once they choose, SQP 2020-2021, they can see two options, one is ‘Class XII’ and the other is ‘Class X’
Students can click any one of the above classes based on his requirement. Once clicked, they can see a list of subjects and question papers (SQP) and Marking Scheme (MS) located next to it.
To avail question papers for CBSE board-exams preparation, they can click SQP, to know the marking scheme they can click MS.
As of now, Accountancy, Arabic, Biology, Assamese, Chemistry are among the available subjects, a few more subjects would be added soon.