Close on the heels of it promoting all the State board students from Classes I to 8 to the next without any examination, the Maharashtra Government on Monday postponed the board examinations of Classes 10 and 12 in view of the worsening Covid-19 situation in the State.
Announcing this, Maharashtra Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad tweeted, “Given the current #Covid-19 situation in Maharashtra, we’ve postponed State board exams for Class 10 & 12. The present circumstances are not conducive for holding exams. Your health is our priority”.
Varsha said keeping in mind the schedule of entrance exams for professional courses, Class 12 exams will be held by end of May, while Class 10 exams will be in June. “We’re closely monitoring the health situation. Fresh dates for these exams will be announced accordingly,” she said.
The Minister said the decision to postpone the Classes 10 and 12 board examinations was taken after consultations with various stakeholders — students, teachers, parents, elected representatives from across parties, academicians & tech giants — in the wake of rising coronavirus cases. “I also thank @cmomaharashtra for his guidance & approval,” she tweeted.
“During the consultations, various alternative assessment options were evaluated keeping the health, well-being and future of our students in mind. Postponing exams seemed to be the most pragmatic solution,” the Minister said.
Varsha said the State Government would be writing to the CBSE, ICSE, IB, Cambridge boards, requesting them to reconsider their exams dates.
It may be recalled that on April 3, the Maharashtra Government had — as a consequence of the severe Covid-19 that the State is reeling under — announced that all State board students from Class 1 and 8 would be promoted to the next without any examination.
“In view of the ongoing situation due to #Covid 19, all State board students across Maharashtra State from Class 1 to Class 8 will be promoted to the next class without any examinations,” she had tweeted.