Cancel CBSE Board Exams 2021: Students run online petition citing inadequate online classes, mental health concerns

With the Central Board of Secondary Education examinations scheduled between May 4 and June 10, a change.org petition has come to the fore seeking a complete cancellation of the board exams. The petition by a group of students, who decided to keep themselves anonymous on the platform, emphasises that it has been a 'difficult year' specifically for students and only online classes wouldn't suffice for students who will take the board exams.

The petition requires 5000 signatures and as of Wednesday, 3,361 signatures have already been filed for it by students from across the country. "The Coronavirus pandemic is affecting students across the country. Students are facing trouble and are pressurised. The student population in India is nearly 34 crore and the government should safeguard the students. Our goal is not to seek an escape from Board Exams but to protect ourselves from the virus. We kindly request the Education Ministry and CBSE to cancel all Board Exams that are pending and promote all the students throughout India," the petition stated.

Himanshu Aswal, a Class 10 CBSE student from Moradabad said, "This has been a difficult year for everyone and you can't think we can just do something with it. Many people still don't have the necessary resources, I'm grateful for myself but I have seen and I personally know many who can't afford or just don't get required support for online studies as such. Also, online classes haven't been helpful at all. What we are doing, we have been doing on our own."

A student from Chennai, Vanathi B, who signed in support of the petition said, "Cancel the exams because in online classes students have difficulty understanding a lot of things, several didn't attend the classes because of poor network connection and thus students suffered a lot. We only have three months more before the exams begin and that's not enough time."

Speaking about how students have been stressed, their mental wellbeing was affected during the pandemic, another student from Kolkata, Samreen Alam added, "Our mental health is affected as we have not stepped out for a year. After a year of complete online studies, how can we appear for an offline exam, that too something as crucial as the board exams. It will hamper students' result. Moreover, if they contract the virus after going to the examination centre, who will take responsibility? We are only asking for cancellation as we want to stay safe from the Coronavirus."

The change.org petition also added that further delay of the 2021 board exams will end up adding more pressure on students and in turn, hamper a regular academic year as schools having just begun getting back to normal.