CBSE schools in Chennai can suspend board exams due to incessant rains: Report

NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has informed the schools that in case their campuses and surrounding areas are inundated by the recent rain, they can suspend the ongoing term-1 exam for classes 10 and 12, reported the Times of India.

The CBSE class 10 exam started on November 16, while the CBSE class 12 exam commenced on December 1.

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"The board has allowed schools to decide whether to conduct or suspend the exam. But schools must convey their decision to the board with proof and justification," a CBSE source reportedly said.

According to principals, many schools may refrain from cancelling the exam as the CBSE has not given clarity on holding re-exams for these subjects. Many parents and students are eager to write the exam despite the rain and flood.

"Though our school is not flooded, some surrounding areas got flooded in the recent rain. Most students, however, turned up for the exam as some parents shifted to hotels to help their children prepare for the exam," Susan George, principal, Hindustan International School, Padur reportedly said.

CBSE board exams began for Class 12 students on Wednesday with a sociology paper. "My English paper is on December 3. If the water has not drained by then, I will use a fisherman's boat to reach the main road. My school vehicle will pick me up from there," Pranay, a Class XII student reportedly said.

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Meanwhile, the board said that a question asked in Class 12 sociology term-1 exam regarding the 2002 Gujarat riots targeting Muslims was "inappropriate and in violation of the CBSE guidelines for external subject experts for setting question papers." CBSE acknowledges the error made and will take strict action against the responsible persons", the board added.

Furthermore, CBSE has directed all the school heads and exam centre superintendents to print the question papers in only one language - English or Hindi.