With Delhi reporting over 13,500 cases in a span of 24 hours, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday, 13 April, asked the Centre to cancel board exams for classes 10 and 12. He appealed to the central government to explore alternative methods of assessing students, including online exams.
As per PTI, Kejriwal further warned that carrying out the exams may contribute to a large-scale spread of the virus, with exam centres turning into major COVID hotspots.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) exams for classes 10 and 12 are slated to begin on 4 May.
Addressing a press conference, the Delhi CM, on Tuesday informed that six lakh children will be writing the CBSE exams and approximately one lakh teachers are to be part of it.
“These (the centres) can become major hotspots leading to large-scale spreading of corona. Children’s lives and health are very important to us. I request the Centre to cancel the CBSE exams.”Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Chief Minister
Kejriwal suggested that the CBSE can explore alternative methods like many other countries have done.
“Several countries have done it, some states in India are doing it too. Some alternative methods could be thought of. Children can be promoted this time on the basis of either an online method or internal assessment. But the exams should be cancelled.”Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Chief Minister
Meanwhile, amid massive uproar over the conduct of board exams as India records its second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, a CBSE official said that the decision to conduct physical exams depends on directives from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and other ministries.
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