After a lot of confusion over the schedule of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) exams, on Monday the board shared tentative dates for practical exams between January 1 to February 8, 2021, amid the speculation of postponing or cancellation of the exams in the wake of ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. However, the CBSE has clarified that the exact dates for the exams would be notified later.
The final notification regarding the exam schedule for students of Class 10 and 12 has yet to be formally announced by the board. However, the CBSE has made it clear that there is no proposal to cancel or postpone the board examinations. Despite clarifying its position on conducting the board exams, it is not yet known when the theory exams would start.
The board has fixed a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for conducting the examinations. All the schools would be sent separate dates for conducting the board practical exams for which the board would appoint an observer. The board observer will oversee the observer, practical and project evaluation.
CBSE said that preparations are on for conducting the board exams in early 2021 in which lakhs of students in India appear every year. CBSE Secretary Anurag Tripathi assured that CBSE is planning out the complete schedule for the examinations and it will soon reveal the process of evaluation for the exams.
Various organisations across the country have demanded postponing the board exams in the wake of the ongoing Coronavirus infection. Tripathi said, "During March-April last year, we were nervous about how to proceed ahead but our schools and teachers did a commendable job and adapted themselves using new technology in the teaching work. During this time the teachers trained on their own. Since the last few months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become normal to take online classes for students using various learning apps."
All CBSE board-affiliated schools would be provided with an app and its link would be made available to them. Schools will also have to upload the photos of all students during their practical exams on this app. The photo will include that of students, observers, outside examiners and school examiners.
Various schools across the country will conduct the practicals only by an external examiner appointed by the CBSE board. On completion of the exam evaluation, schools will have to upload the marks scored by all students on the link provided by the board. Practical exam and project evaluation work would be conducted in the respective schools.
With inputs from PTI
