Weeks ahead of the CBSE and ICSE Board examinations, political parties have expressed serious concern over the Centre’s go-ahead to conduct the examinations amid the corona pandemic.
While the Congress has sought cancellation of the Board exams, saying it will be impossible to ensure safety of students at crowded exam centres, Shiv Sena appealed to the Centre to take a uniform decision on the board exams of Classes 10 and 12 across the country in the wake of different States and Boards having different opinions on the issues.
While former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said the decision to conduct the CBSE exams from May 4 should be reconsidered in view of the rising number of Covid-19 cases across the country, party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi wrote to Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank seeking cancellation of the Board exams. She also pointed out that it is our responsibility as political leaders to protect and guide the young.
According to the revised date sheet for CBSE Board exams 2021, the Class 10 exams would be held between May 4 and June 7 and those for Class 12 would be held between May 4 and June 15. CBSE officials have said exam centres across the country have been increased by 40-50 per cent to ensure social distancing among examinees. ICSE Board examinations as well as several States have also scheduled the Board examinations during the next two months.
“In the light of the devastating corona second wave, conducting CBSE exams must be reconsidered. All stakeholders must be consulted before making sweeping decisions. On how many counts does GOI intend to play with the future of India’s youth?” Rahul asked through social media platform.
In her letter to the Education Minister, Priyanka said by forcing children to sit for these exams during a raging pandemic, the Government and the CBSE board will be held responsible if any exam centre becomes a hotspot with a large numbers of children becoming infected. “The Government and the CBSE board might want to consider whether they are prepared to own the legal liability for students or others who might be severely affected by the disease in this manner,” she said.
She said with over one lakh cases of Covid-19 being reported across the country, lakh of children and parents have expressed fear of getting infected with coronavirus.
Priyanka said the apprehensions of students are well founded, as giving exams under the spectre of a deadly disease will cause unnecessary anxiety to children and impact their ability to perform as well.
“They are rightfully requesting that the exams be cancelled under the prevailing circumstances. I do hope that the Government will engage in a dialogue with schools, students and their parents so that a safer way for them to fulfil their educational obligations can be found. Rather than forcing them into a potentially dangerous situation, it would be in the fitness of things for them to be given the support, encouragement and protection that is due to them at this very trying time,” Vadra said in her letter.
Shiv Sena also appealed to the Centre to take a uniform decision on the board exams of Classes 10 and 12 across the country in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. A unilateral decision by any State would lead to students of that State being at a disadvantage in terms of career and opportunities, Shiv Sena’s chief spokesperson Arvind Sawant said in a letter addressed to Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’.
