Coronavirus: CBSE to conduct classes 10, 12 exams for only 29 main subjects

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 1

The Central Board of Secondary Education will conduct board examinations for only 29 main subjects that are needed for promotion and are crucial for university admissions, Human Resource Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' said on Wednesday.

"Have advised CBSE to conduct board exams only for 29 main subjects that are required for promotion and crucial for university admissions. Whenever CBSE is in a position to hold board exams, it shall conduct (sic) for 29 subjects by giving adequate notice. For  rest (sic) of the subjects, CBSE will not hold board exams and instructions for their marking, assessment will be issued soon," he said.

The board will not conduct pending Class 10 and 12 exams in foreign countries.

Coronavirus outbreak in the country has left CBSE’s Class 10 and 12 board examinations hanging midway.

The ministry has directed the board to promote all students of Classes 1 to 8 to the next class.

"In view of the current situation due to #COVID19, I have advised @cbseindia29 to promote ALL students studying in classes I-VIII to the next class or grade," Union HRD Minister said in a series of tweets.

Students of Class 9 and 11 will be promoted on school-based assessments conducted so far, he said, adding those not promoted this time can appear in school based tests online or offline.

"Students studying in classes IX & XI will be promoted to next class/grade based on the school-based assessments including projects, periodic tests, term exams, etc. conducted so far. Students not promoted this time can appear in school-based tests, online or offline," Nishank tweeted. 

Soon after Pokhriyal’s direction, the CBSE said it was taking the decisions as a one-time measure in view of the extraordinary situation posed by the evolving COVID19 pandemic.

“The CBSE will reschedule Board exams in consultation with the higher education authorities and keeping in view the entrance test schedules. Also the Board will give a ten-day notice to all stakeholders when rescheduling the exams. Board exams will be held only for 29 subjects needed for promotions of entry to higher educational institutions,” a CBSE statement said.

Class 10 Boards will be held for the following subjects---Hindi Course A and B; English communication; English language and literature; Science; Social Science; Computer Science New; Information Practice Old and New; Information Technology and Biotechnology.

Class 12 Board exams for the whole of India will be held for Business Studies, Geography; Hindi Elective, Hindi Core; Home Science; Sociology and Computer Science Old.

Class 12 Boards for North East Delhi district where exams were disrupted due to riots will be held in physics, accountancy, chemistry, English Elective N and C; English Core; Mathematics, Economics, Biology, Political Science and History.

For Classes 9 and 11, the Board said though many affiliated schools had completed the exam and evaluation process, many had not.

“Those that have not completed the exam process are advised to promote students of grades IX and XI to the next grade depending on the school based assessment. Any child unable to clear these assessments should be given an option to appear for school based tests offline or online,” CBSE said.