Group of ministers meeting today; Know various possible options for Class 12 board exams

NEW DELHI: Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will chair a high-level meeting today with all State and UT’s education ministers. In this meeting, the ministers will talk about the upcoming Class 12 board examination and professional course entrance exams.

According to the CBSE sources, the possible options that can be explored are conducting pen and paper mode exams for only major subjects, conducting all exams in two phases planned as per the COVID-19 situation in different states or districts, or cancelling the exams and announcing results as per an alternative assessment scheme.

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The Ministry of Education has invited suggestions on board exams from various stakeholders that will be taken up at the meeting scheduled to be chaired by Union Minister Rajnath Singh.

A large section of students and parents have been demanding that the exams be cancelled, school principals have varied views on the possible options that can be explored.

"Under present circumstances, I visualize JEE type of online exams, through the involvement of the NTA. It would require setting up of the centres as per different locations, involving schools as self-centres or perhaps both. It would be a humongous exercise but can be at least considered for all major subjects opted for by a large number of students.

"For subjects with very few enrolments, the OTP linked delivery of paper to be printed and conducted at home Centres, is also a possibility," said Sangeeta Hajela, Principal, DPS Indirapuram.

Rajat Goel, Director, MGR School Rohini, said, the assessment exam can be conducted online by the CBSE or the school may be allowed to plan an internal exam.

"It can contain MCQs with some objective type questions. The exam can be conducted for every subject wherein the question paper is framed in such a way that student has to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills in attempting those questions," he said.

"There can be another part of aptitude test that can be made an intrinsic part of question papers as it will help them in passing the entrance exams of various universities or colleges," he added.

However, Pallavi Upadhyaya, Principal, DPS-RNE Ghaziabad, said the digital divide has to be kept in mind before deciding on an alternative mode of assessment. "Board exams for class 12 are not an independently managed examination. It involves several factors which need due time and consideration before being subjected to any change.

"Hence, devising an alternative mode of assessment will be a challenging task if it is in an online mode, as the digital divide in India is a reality. CBSE has to revamp the entire infrastructure, and come up with a plan that suits all from rural, semi-urban to urban schools," she said.

A senior board official, however, said, "nothing has been finalised yet. A final call will only be taken by the Education Ministry after considering suggestions from all stakeholders".

Recently, CBSE had announced that a decision on the Class 12 board exams will be taken on or after June 1.

Earlier, Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal held a meeting with all states’ education Secretaries for the implementation of the New Education Policy in the country on May 17, 2021.

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