The Union Education Ministry’s decision to cancel the CBSE Class X and postponing the Class XII examinations 2021 has drawn mixed reactions from the student community in Ranchi.
Some of them are satisfied with the decision, whereas others are asking the ministry to conduct the exams with full Covid 19 protocols. Surbhi Priya, a Class X student from Bridgeford School, Tupudana said, “The decision to cancel the Class X examination by CBSE is a welcome step in larger interest of students. As the Corona cases are surging day-by-day with the situation becoming out of control from State and Centre it is students who have to take their own safety.”
Echoing the views of Surbhi Priya, her mother Ekta Sinha says, “We cannot afford our kids to take risk in the name of examination. We appreciate the decision of the Centre to cancel the examination as during examination hundreds of students gather at examination centres. It is a high risk zone and there are chances of spreading of infection.”
However, there are students, who are happy with the decision to cancel the class X examination but are doubtful on the decision of promoting students based on internal assessment.
A class X student from Surendranath Centenary School requesting anonymity said, “The decision on promotion of students based on internal assessment is doubtful as it will be the prerogative of class teachers to give grade to students. The students who are favourites of the class teacher will get good grades despite the fact that they are good or average in academics.”
Moreover, there are students who opine that CBSE should conduct examinations full of corona protocols. Anil Sharma, father of a boy whose kid is a student at DPS Ranchi said, “Offices and business establishments are opened, also the Election Commission of India is conducting elections in different states and bypoll why students have to suffer. Examinations could be conducted with full corona protocols such as by increasing the number of examination centres.”
There are also students who opined that if CBSE Class X examinations can be cancelled why not competitive examinations. The Ministry of Education cancelled the CBSE Class 10 exams and postponed the Class 12 exams 2021.
This decision was made in a meeting held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ and CBSE officials today.
The Centre decided to postpone the examination after Opposition leaders such as Arvind Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi have appealed to the Centre to postpone board exams. Parents, child rights bodies, several state governments have also made similar appeals to the centre to reconsider the plan to conduct offline CBSE board exams next month.
The CBSE Class X examination was to commence from May and was to run till June mid.