AsIndia’s covid cases tally has crossed 1.6lakh cases per day, and the CBSE isfirm over its decision to conduct board exams from May 4, the parents areconcerned over the health safety of their children and have been making appealsfor the postponement.
Evenmany political leaders and Chief Ministers of different states have backed theparents concerns and made appeals to the Education Minister to postpone theupcoming board exams.
Inthe related development Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to hold a meeting withEducation Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal and other senior officials in the Ministryon Wednesday to discuss the issue of holding CBSE Board exams amid demand fromstudents, teachers, parents and other stakeholders to cancel it due to Covid-19surge, said sources.
Takingcognisance of various political leaders including Delhi Chief Minister ArvindKejriwal and former Congress President Rahul Gandhi, raising voice to postponeboard exams amid spike in Covid cases, it is learnt that the Prime Ministerwill hold a virtual meeting with Pokhriyal, Education Secretary, CBSE officialsand other senior officials concerned.
Thefinal decision on Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Board exams isexpected in the meeting whether to conduct the exams as over 30 lakh studentsof Class 10 and 12 will participate in it.
OnMonday, a meeting on the issue was also organised by the Ministry of Educationand the CBSE to discuss all aspects related to the board exams where it shouldbe postponed, or it should be held following Covid protocols.
Thechorus for cancellation of upcoming board exams for class 10 and 12 grew louderon Tuesday in the wake of the exponential rise in COVID-19 cases even as theCBSE said it has not taken any decision yet in this regard.
CBSEofficials denied any change in plan "yet" and reiterated that thearrangements are being made to ensure social distancing by increasingexamination centres by over 50 per cent.
TheCBSE Board exams are scheduled to be held from May 4 to June 7, the result ofwhich will be announced by July 15.
Manypoliticians and other stakeholders in the society came in support of thestudents and parents, apart from cancelling the exams as well as withsuggestions to conduct it online.
DelhiCM on Tuesday appealed to the Centre to cancel it, saying, "some alternativemethods could be thought of. Children can be promoted this time on the basis ofeither an online method or internal assessment. But CBSE exams should becancelled".
Notingdevastating second wave of Covid-19, Rahul Gandhi said: "Conducting CBSE examsmust be reconsidered. All stakeholders must be consulted before making sweepingdecisions."
Bollywoodactor Sonu Sood extended support to the students, saying, "I requesteveryone to support students who are forced to appear for offline board exams inthese tough times. With the number of cases rising to 145k a day, I feel thereshould be an internal assessment method to promote them rather than risking somany lives."