COVID Comeback: Govt To Postpone CBSE Board Exams?

New Delhi: Given the steady spike in COVID-19 cases in the country, the Union Education Ministry and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) are reportedly having a rethink on holding the Board exams in the offline mode.

The annual exams for Classes X and XII are slated to begin on May 4.

However, sources in the Education Ministry said it seems “difficult” to hold the board exams at this time and the government is open to reconsider the dates.

On the other hand, The Indian Express quoted CBSE officials as saying that it is too early to indicate changes to the schedule.

The paper further reported that the Education Ministry and CBSE are at present engaged in talks on the issue.

The reported move to reconsider the dates of the Board exams also comes amid growing calls to postpone them.

On Tuesday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the decision to conduct the CBSE exams in May should be reconsidered in view of the rising number of COVID-19 cases across the country.

In view of the alarming situation in the national capital, the Delhi CM has requested the government to cancel the examinations, news agency ANI reported.

Kejriwal warned that conducting the exams may lead to large-scale spread of the virus and the centres could emerge as major hotspots.

A day earlier on Monday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had tweeted to support the students’ request to cancel the Board exams.

Rahul argued that if COVID-19 cases are increasing in the country then it would be better to reconsider the decision to organise the exams in this situation.

Also Read: CBSE Appeals To Teachers & Parents To Take COVID-19 Vaccine Ahead Of Board Exams