With the latest CBSE announcement regarding the board exams in India especially in states like Maharashtra and Kerala, a group of parents have filed a petition with the Supreme Court explaining their dissent around the board exams being held during the first week of July. The concerned parents have filled the petition asking the Supreme Court to cancel the Board Exams in India for the year 2020 due to the rising number of coronavirus cases every single day. The examination can be the perfect breeding grounds for increased cases of COVID 19, risking the lives of students all across India. This is not only being demanded for the safety of the children, but also the safety of the others involved, including tutors, faculty, invigilators and more.
Contemplating the fact that Board Exams in India are held in more than 15000 examination centers, this could be a major reason for growing cases of COVID 19 in the near future. Since most of the cases are asymptomatic in the start it might be difficult to identify students who unknowingly could be carriers and in turn infect a lot of people. Being cautious is the key to escape this pandemic and so the parents have appealed cancellation of the remaining board exams in India. Taking examinations during the peak of coronavirus would pass the risk on to the students as well as their families. Many other major universities in India and worldwide have revoked their assessments keeping in mind the same motive. Delhi University and Chhattisgarh state boards also have terminated their examination completely even though Delhi University also considered an open book exam amid much controversy.
What did the petition say:
The petition for board exams cancellation mentioned how difficult it would be for the children to sit in the hall for four hours at a stretch wearing gloves or even PPE suits in stifling heat and humidity. It also mentioned how impractical it would be to increase the number of examination centres from 3000 to 15000 to maintain social distancing. It notes how inconsiderate the CBSE and ICSE is about the fact that so many students could be infected and become carriers of coronavirus during the board exams. The Petition further mentioned that since many schools abroad have waived off their exam and students are evaluated on the basis of their internal assessments and practical exams, why can’t schools in India pursue the similar criteria? Admittedly, this could be the basis for major restructuring of the future of education in our country. It initiated CBSE to opt of such evaluation system for this academic year.
Advocate Rishi Malhotra reportedly said that CBSE should reconsider cancelling the board exams like other councils and universities.
Final take:
CBSE also stated the changes regarding the examination centers for board exams and eligibility criteria, making it easy for the student residing in containment zones during this current period of lockdown. The parents appealed to the Supreme Court to cancel or delay the board exams since the risk of the virus is rampant among young people like students. With COVID 19 slated to be at its peak in the first week of July, it does not seem like the best time to conduct all India board exams. The pandemic should be kept in mind while taking such a crucial decision. India has reached a number of 3 lakh confirmed coronavirus cases at the moment and by the time CBSE conducts board exams, the cases will far exceed a manageable amount and would prove to be harmful and risky. We still await the decision of the Supreme Court!
