Talking Point: Should class XII board exams be cancelled – Times of India

Cancellation of class XII exams will give a wrong message to students. This might lead to disinterest in studies. Cancellation will not only affect those who have to appear for the exam this year but also those who are preparing for it for next year. Class XII is a gateway to higher studies. Candidates must be given chance to write the exam as they have been preparing for it for the last year. No doubt, the ongoing health crisis has impacted us mentally and physically, but the cancellation will impact them academically. CBSE must think about conducting board exams in July-August as it does not seem feasible in June.

– Atul Kumar, principal, Government Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, Kakrola, New Delhi

Alternative assessment is needed


In view of the pandemic, we should better think of alternative measures to analyse the academic abilities of students instead of conducting a physical exam. It is important to save lives. The exam can happen if students are safe. The time is not yet conducive to conduct traditional pen and paper mode of exam. The current situation calls for the cancellation of exam to exempt the students from unnecessary anxiety.

– Vanithalokesh S K, principal, BMN Public School, Makali, Bengaluru


Important to address students’ concern


Safeguarding the health and safety of the students is the topmost priority at this moment, it is also equally critical to design a safe and transparent methodology to assess them for selection to colleges for higher education. Designing and conducting an online assessment for respective streams could be one such solution. Students are under tremendous anxiety about their future, hence it is important to address that concern as well.

– Kavita Sahay Kerawalla, vice chairperson, VIBGYOR Group of Schools, Mumbai


Students should not be left in lurch


In India, XII Boards are an important benchmark for admission in colleges and different competitive examinations. But during the pandemic, we as a nation have to think that: Is the exam important than our children’s life? Around the world, the IB board has cancelled the class XII examination and results are being prepared on the basis of internal examinations. CBSE should also prepare the result based on internal exams. Students should not be kept in the lurch for a long time as it is affecting their mental health. When the situation becomes normal CBSE can conduct an online proficiency test (MCQ) to judge the learning outcome.

– Rajan Gautam, director, Bhagwan Mahavir International School, Surat