WB Madhyamik exams 2021 not from June 15, decision on cancellation soon

TNN | May 11, 2021| KOLKATA: The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education has informed the Bengal school education department that it isn't possible to hold the Madhyamik examinations as per schedule from June 1 to June 10. The Board has sought to know from the government whether the examinations will be deferred or be scrapped altogether. Any decision by the state on the state board examinations will also have a bearing on the state higher secondary examinations slated to start on June 15. There are around 10 lakh Madhyamik examinees.

Sources said that the president of the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, Kalyanmoy Ganguly on Tuesday have informed the school education department that it is not possible to hold the Madhyamik Examinations from the scheduled date of June 1. "If the examinations are to be postponed or cancelled, is a call which needs to be taken by the state government," said Ganguly. Education minister Bratya Basu had earlier on Monday informed that the decision to hold the Board examinations or postpone it will be taken by chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

"The students are in a dilemma. Their session was held online. Only between February and March, some physical classes and practical sessions could be held. It is unfortunate that the delay in taking a decision is causing them to undergo more stress and trauma," said the headmaster of a government school.

According to board officials they had an initial discussion with the state school education department. The officials agreed in the meeting with the local train services now stopped and the state buses and Metro services running at 50% capacity, it will not only be a problem for examinees to physically turn up at examination centres - many of them in rural Bengal - but also for teachers, examiners and other officials conducting and carrying question papers and answer scripts physically. It is largely believed that the restrictions will remain till May 31, making it impossible to hold the examinations in time even if the Covid-19 situation improves.

The CISCE has already decided to cancel the ICSE examination. A decision for ISC will be taken in early June. Students who will be promoted to class XI will have to face a challenge when they begin studying difficult subjects in the plus two. The schools have been instructed by the Council to begin the admission process for Class XI, if not already started.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced the postponement of class XII examination and cancelled the class X examination following a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Both the exams were slated to begin on May 4.

The CBSE has decided that the situation will be reviewed on June 1 by the Board. A notice of at least 15 days will be given before the start of the examinations.