Reasons CBSE Board Exams 2021 Should Be Postponed Until May | Photo Credit: Representative Image
Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal had invited students for inquiries and concerns regarding upcoming board and competitive exams. Of the many requests and responses received, most of them are to postpone the 2021 CBSE Board Exams from their regular February to March hours until May 2021.
From concerns about school reopening to more pertinent questions about practical tests, the answers are endless. Experts and professors have also shared concerns and requested that the schools be reopened for students in classes 10 and 12 to ensure that students are prepared for the board exam.
However, in a recent interview, Sanyam Bhardwaj, CBSE exam controller shared that there were no plans to postpone the board exams. He has also shared that boars are also open to options. While we wait, here is a look at the top 5 reasons why the CBSE Board Exams 2021 should be postponed until May.
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CBSE Board Exams 2021: 5 Reasons Exams Should Be Postponed
1. Schools are still closed in many states
Schools in India were closed in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic. Following the closures and subsequent unlocking guidelines, schools were allowed to reopen starting in October. Even then, many states have decided to keep schools closed and have ordered schools to remain closed until December 31. The closed schools raise concerns about the opening of centers to carry out exams of teaching in the real classroom, which has not been around this year.
2. No 100% access to online learning
The 2020-21 academic year began virtually in March 2020 and has remained largely online for the majority of students. The governments of several states have also launched television channels to ensure continuous learning. However, the fact is that not all students have access to online learning. In a CBSE survey, the board agreed that while the majority of students in urban areas have had access to online learning, the number in rural areas remains very low. Without classes, taking board exams before schools reopen can be simply unfair to all those students.
3. It is not possible to take practical exams without practical classes
Many experts and academics have raised questions about the justification for taking practical exams without actually teaching practical classes. “Showing a student how a chemical reacts is not the same as the students actually doing the experiment. The color of the smoke, the smell … the amount of acid to be poured, require physical instructions. If we haven’t, how can students be assessed in the same way? “asks Ms Aarti, a Chemistry PGT at a leading school in Faridabad.
Similar objections have been raised and teachers have asked for a minimum period of 2 months of classroom training before board exams are held.
4. Many state boards have already postponed testing.
Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh have postponed their SSC and HSC or Class 10 and 12 counseling exams from 2021 until May. Other states have also shared their willingness and ability to delay board examinations. While the state board and central board exams do not follow the same date sheet, they are generally conducted at approximately the same time to ensure that all students have access to similar opportunities with higher education. Additionally, the board’s exam schedule also determines nationally competitive exams, where students from all states sit. With the precedent set, postponing the 2021 CBSE Board exams until May would ensure equal opportunity for all.
5. Students who are not ready for offline exams
Many teachers and experts, along with students, have shared concerns about taking an exam yet. “Our curriculum is complete and we have been taking an online assessment and starting the review. But a one hour online exam cannot reproduce a three hour exam. Students are just not used to writing for so long! “shared Ms. Parul, Senior Accounts Teacher.
“The exam is an experience; it is not simply about what a student knows and does not know. It is also the ability of a child to remember what he has learned in a specific environment. Schools ensure that pre-board exams simulate an actual board exam as closely as possible. With schools until they close, students have no idea how, why or where. It is almost essential that students physically return to classrooms before they can enter the exam rooms! “she adds.
With the arguments in place, the final decision now remains with the Ministry of Education and CBSE. As for the reason why the exams must be taken in March, the only one available is to return the academic year to its usual “normal”. And yet what is normal now?
