News Analysis India

Tag: Class 12 board exams

  • SC refuses to interfere with CBSE, CISCE assessment scheme for evaluating Class 12 students

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to interfere with the assessment scheme propounded by both CBSE and CISCE for evaluation of Class 12 students, whose board examinations have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The top court rejected the objections raised by a parents’ body as well as students and said that it is not possible to have a second guess approach with regard to various aspects of the assessment scheme.

    A special bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari said, “We accept the scheme as propounded by both the boards-(CBSE and CISCE)”.

    The bench also noted the submission of Attorney General K K Venugopal, assisting the court in individual capacity and also appearing for the Centre, that University Grants Commission (UGC) will issue directives to all the colleges and varsities that admissions be made after the declaration of results by all the boards — CBSE, CISCE and state boards.

    ALSO READ | CBSE, CISCE given 1 day to address marking concern

    The top court, which dealt with all the major objections of the interveners — Uttar Pradesh Parents’ Association, and second compartment and private students — said the scheme propounded cannot be doubted on the mere apprehension of manipulation of marks by the CBSE schools to favour their own students.

    The bench rejected the submission of senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for UP Parents Association, Lucknow, that option to students for external examination as given in the CBSE’s scheme should be offered at the very initial stage to both the school and the students and the results should be declared together.

    It said that after hearing the views of Venugopal, “We are of the view that this suggestion cannot be taken forward.

    This would result in denial of an option to the students and also result in increasing the uncertainty until the exam of improvisation is conducted and the results are declared”.

    The bench said that if students are given the option of internal assessment then as per the schemes, their results will be declared by July 31 and thereafter they can opt for improvisation, if their marks are less.

    Therefore, the suggestions given cannot be accepted, the bench said, adding that the boards have taken a conscious decision to cancel the class 12 exams, which is in larger public interest.

    ALSO READ | Supreme Court approves CBSE’s 30:30:40 formula to compute class XII board results

    It said that on the suggestion that the results (of both physical examination and internal assessment) be declared on the same date to avoid students missing the opportunity in admissions to colleges, the Attorney General has made statement on instructions that UGC will direct all universities to complete the process of admissions after declaration of results by all the boards.

    “In view of the above we hold that there is no reason to interfere with the scheme propounded by CBSE and CICSE,” the bench said, adding that the schemes take into account the concerns of all sets of students.

    With regard to compartment and private students, the bench said that they will be allowed to take the physical examination to be held by CBSE in between August 15 and September 15, 2021.

    On Monday, the top court had asked the CBSE and the CISCE to respond to the concerns raised by some students and parents on the schemes of both the boards formulated to evaluate Class 12 students.

    The UP parents’ association and the students have flagged several concerns with regard to the CBSE and ICSE schemes for evaluation for Class 12 results and said that many clauses are arbitrary and would be detrimental to future prospects of the students.

    Earlier, the CBSE and CISCE boards told the Supreme Court that class 12 board examination results would be declared by July 31 and the students, desirous of taking up the board examination physically of CBSE can do so between August 15 and September 15, subject to conducive pandemic situation.

    The CISCE has said its students can take improvement examinations which may commence from September 1, subject to the situation remaining conducive.

    The apex court was told by both Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CICSE) that they have amended their respective evaluation scheme to assess Class 12 students and incorporated a dispute resolution mechanism for the candidates who have any objections with regard to the results.

  • CBSE panel to work out criteria for assessment of class 12 students, submit report in 10 days

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Friday constituted a 13-member committee to work out an objective criteria for assessment of class 12 students after their board exams were cancelled.

    The panel will submit its report within 10 days.

    “In view of the uncertain conditions due to Covid and the feedback obtained from various stakeholders, it was decided that class 12 board exams of CBSE will not be held this year.

    It was also decided that CBSE will take steps to compile the results as per a well defined objective criteria in a time-bound manner,” said CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj.

    “A 13-member committee has been constituted for the purpose. The panel will submit its report within 10 days,” he added.

    The government on Tuesday cancelled the CBSE class 12 board exams amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic across the country with Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserting that the decision was taken in the interest of students and the anxiety among students, parents and teachers must be put to an end.

  • PM interacts with class 12 students, asks them to utilise time productively post exam cancellation

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: In a surprise interaction with class-12 students and their parents, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asked them to utilise their time in a productive and creative manner following the cancellation of their exams and said they should never feel stressed about any examination.

    Joining the online interaction organised by the Education Ministry, Modi asked them how they are feeling following the cancellation of the board exams in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and what are they planning to do now.

    The prime minister asked the students whether they will watch IPL, Champion’s League, or wait for the Olympics.

    He also told students that they should always remember the mantra of ‘health is wealth’ and enquired what do they do to remain physically fit.

    Several students shared their experiences with the prime minister about how the announcement brought relief for them and ended a long spell of uncertainty.

    ALSO READ | We will try to give results in shortest possible time: CBSE Secretary Anurag Tripathi

    Modi told the students that the decision to cancel exams was taken in their interest Some parents also shared their thoughts about how students can focus now on their college admissions.

    The government on Tuesday decided to cancel the CBSE class 12 board exams amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic across the country with Modi asserting that the decision was taken in the interest of students and the anxiety among students, parents and teachers must be put to an end.

    The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Modi in which it was decided that the CBSE will take steps to compile the results of Class 12 students according to well-defined objective criteria in a time-bound manner.

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  • SC directs CBSE, CISCE to place on record objective criteria for assessment of Class 12 studentS

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday said it was happy to note that the government has cancelled the class 12 board exams, and directed the CBSE and CICSE to place on record well-defined objective criteria for assessment of students in two weeks.

    A bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari asked Attorney General K K Venugopal and advocate J K Das, appearing for the CISCE, to place on record the parameters within two weeks.

    “We are happy to note that the government has taken the decision to cancel class 12 board exams but we want that the objective criteria fixed for assessment of marks be placed before us,” the bench said.

    The bench clarified that it will not give more time for placement of objective criteria as many students will be taking admissions in colleges in India and abroad.

    The top court said that it will go through the objective parameters for assessment of marks, so that if anyone has objections they can be dealt with.

    “This is equally important as the relief sought by the petitioners seeking cancellation of board exams,” the bench observed.

    The bench was hearing a plea seeking directions to cancel the class 12 exams of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) amid the pandemic situation.

    At the outset, Venugopal said that he has circulated a letter about the decision taken by the government, which the bench said it has gone through.

    Veugopal said that CBSE will require some time to formulate the well-defined objective criteria for assessment of class 12 students and the court may defer the hearing for at least two weeks.

    Das said CISCE wanted 3-4 weeks for placing the objective criteria as there will be consultation of experts in the process.

    The bench said, “You (CISCE) can do it over-night. Four weeks’ time is a little longer. We cannot give you 3-4 weeks’ time. You please place it before us in two weeks as students will have to take admissions in colleges. Nowadays all communication is happening virtually”.

    Petitioner in-person Mamta Sharma said that like CBSE and CISCE, there are many state boards which have not taken any decision on class 12 exams.

    She said that there are about 1.2 crore students in state boards and the court may direct them to take decisions.

    The bench told Sharma, “You should have patience and not rush things like this.

    You have only asked for cancellation of board exams by CBSE and now you are saying state boards.

    You are asking for heavens.

    First let CBSE place on record objective criteria and then we will see about other boards”.

    ccThe top court then deferred the hearing by two weeks.

    On June 1, the government has decided to cancel the CBSE Class 12 board exams because of the COVID-19 pandemic with Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserting that the decision has been taken in the interest of students and that the anxiety among students, parents and teachers must be put to an end.

    The call was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Modi in which it was decided that the CBSE will take steps to compile the results of class 12 students as per well-defined objective criteria in a time-bound manner.

    On May 31, Centre has informed the top court that it will take a final decision within the next two days on whether to conduct class 12 board exams amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The top court had then observed that if the Centre decides to depart from the last year’s policy, wherein the remaining board exams were cancelled due to the pandemic, then it must give ‘tangible reasons’ for it.

    Observing that the last year’s decision was taken after deliberations, the apex court had said, “If you are departing from that policy, please give us good reasons so that we can examine it.”

    The apex court on June 26, 2020 had approved the schemes of the CBSE and CISCE for cancellations of remaining board examinations scheduled from July 1 to 15 last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and also approved their formula for assessment of examinees.

    Sharma’s plea has also sought directions to devise an “objective methodology” to declare the result of class 12 within a specific time frame.

    The petition has arrayed the Centre, the CBSE and the CISCE as respondents in the matter.

    The CBSE had on April 14 announced cancellation of class 10 exams and postponement of class 12 exams in view of the surge in coronavirus cases.

    The plea filed in the apex court has contended that due to the unprecedented health emergency and surge in COVID-19 cases in the country, it is not possible to conduct the examination and any further delay would cause irreparable loss to the future of students.

    “In view of the unprecedented health emergency and rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country, the conduct of examination (either offline/online/blended) in upcoming weeks is not possible and delay in examination will cause irreparable loss to the students as time is the essence in taking admission in higher education courses in foreign universities,” the plea has said.

  • MP cancels Class 12 exams, CM says right now life is more important than career

    By Express News Service
    BHOPAL: A day after the Centre nixed the CBSE Class 12 examinations and the CISCE followed suit, Madhya Pradesh announced cancellation of the state board’s Clasd 12 examinations.

    Announcing the decision not to conduct the MP Board of Secondary Examinations (MPBSE) Class XII exams after high level meeting with all stakeholders on Wednesday, the CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said: “Right now life is more important than career. Saving precious lives of children comes first and securing career can come later. At the time of Covid pandemic we cannot put mental burden of exams on our children.”

    He also announced formation of a group of ministers (GoM), which in consultation with experts will finalise the procedure of assessing the students performance, who would have taken the Class XII exams.

    ALSO READ | Gujarat government cancels state board exams for class 12

    Further on the lines of CBSE, the CM also announced that the students who aren’t satisfied with their assessment/results, will have the option to take the Class XII exam when the Covid crisis is over or situation becomes conducive for exams.

    As per sources, around 7.5 lakh students would have taken the MPBSE’s Class XII exam.

    The MPBSE’s Class X exams, which were to be taken by around 10 lakh students, have already been cancelled and the students result will be declared based on their internal assessment.

    Last year, the MPBSE had conducted Class XII examinations after the slowdown of the first Covid wave, while results of Class X examinations, which couldn’t be completed due to peaking of the first wave, were declared based on the results of exam papers already held.

  • Plea in Supreme Court to cancel class 12 exams in view of COVID-19 surge

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: A plea has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking directions to the Centre to cancel the class 12 exams in view of surge in COVID-19 cases.

    The petition filed by an advocate said the results of Class 12 students be declared based on ‘objective methodology’ within a specified time frame.

    “Conducting Class 12 board examination is not possible because of surging COVID-19 cases. Even online or offline examinations not feasible because of an unprecedented pandemic.

    “Delay in the declaration of Class 12 results will hamper students taking admission in foreign universities”, the petition said.

    ALSO READ | No decision yet on pending class 12 board exams, says CBSE

    The petition filed by lawyer Mamta Sharma has made the Centre, Central Board of Secondary Education and the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination as parties in the case.

    The plea contended that due to the unprecedented health emergency and surge in COVID-19 cases in the country, it is not possible to conduct examination and any further delay would cause irreparable loss to the future of students.

    Meanwhile, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) said on Friday that it has not taken any decision yet on class 12 board exams even as a section of students and parents have been demanding cancellation of exams in view of the pandemic situation.

    The board had on April 14 announced cancellation of class 10 exams and postponed class 12 exams in view of surge in COVID-19 cases.

    The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.