Keypoints:
- Class 10th board exams are cancelled, class 12th exams remain postponed.
- Class 12th examination to be held once the Covid situation improves.
- All students from class 10th will be promoted to class 11th based on internal assessment.
- Varsha Gaikwad said that this decision came after other boards made similar announcements.
- Students can appear for the exams if they wish to, said Varsha Gaikwad.
Maharashtra is the worst affected state by the novel coronavirus. Hence, amid the rising cases of Covid-19, Maharashtra government decides to cancel board exams for class 10th. This decision was taken on Tuesday in the state cabinet meeting which was chaired by Maha CM Uddhav Thackeray.
After the meeting, Public Health Minister Rajesh Tope said that class 10th exams will not be held and all students will be promoted to class 11th.The decision to conduct assessment will be taken by the school education department. Tope also said that class 12th exams will be taken once the Covid situation improves.
Meanwhile, school education minister Varsha Gaikwad stated on social media saying that,”Given the worsening situation of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Maharashtra government has now decided to cancel the state board exams for class 10th. Health and safety of students and teachers is our topmost priority.” She also said that the decision was taken after other boards made the similar announcements.
Given the worsening situation of the #Covid-19 pandemic, the Maharashtra government has now decided to CANCEL the state board exams for class 10th. The health & safety of our students and teachers is our topmost priority.#exams #ssc #hsc pic.twitter.com/C8xCY3VVdX
— Varsha Gaikwad (@VarshaEGaikwad) April 20, 2021
“We will work out a process to mark students based on internal assessments and announce it soon. We will also consider giving students a chance to appear for the exam if they wish to. Details for the same will be discussed and worked out with experts,” added Gaikwad.
Considering the internal assessments of the students, Varsha Gaikwad said that the process of rewarding marks based on internal assessment will be announced soon. The decision on re-examination of the students who will be unhappy with their marks will also be announced at a later date.
Parents and teachers have expressed joy in this news, however, educationists are pointing out a grim reality that marks based on internal assessment may not be possible in many cases because there are students who have neither attended online classes nor enough offline classes. None of the baseline tests or cumulative assessments was held this year for the students, which further raises questions about the fairness of the internal marking system.
Education minister Varsha Gaikwad had earlier announced the postponement of class 10 (SSC) and Class 12 (Class 12) board exams 2021 due to the growing cases of coronavirus infections in the state.
