HSLC & HS exams to be held in modified form only after positivity rate slashes to 1%: Edu Minister

June 5: There will be no Class 12 board exams this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday, ending weeks of anxiety among students and parents over the Covid situation in the country. Announcing this decision on 1 June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Government of India has decided to cancel the Class XII CBSE Board Exams. After extensive consultations, we have taken a decision that is student-friendly, one that safeguards the health as well as future of our youth.” However, Assam Education Minister declined to follow the footsteps of PM Modi and rather announced “CBSE has cancelled the examination, we will not cancel. HSLC and HS examinations are important for student’s future.”

While attending a press conference on Saturday, state Education Minister Dr Ranoj Pegu said that as and when the Covid situation in the state improves, the postponed HSLC & HS Exams conducted by SEBA and AHSEC will be conducted, but ofcourse not in its regular mode but in a modified manner. “We will be in a comfortable position to hold the exams if the COVID positivity rate comes down to 1%. It has come down significantly from 10%, in some districts it is down to 2%. The exams will be in a modified manner, maybe time-wise, may be paper-wise,” said the minister. The HSLC and HS examinations were scheduled to begin from May 11, but were postponed to a later date due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier too, State Education Minister Ranoj Pegu cleared the air and asserted that there is no question of cancelling HSLC (by SEBA) and HS (by AHSEC) examinations and the same will be held with reduced subjects. The minister said he consulted with various entities including students’ organisations, teachers’ organisation as well as parents before deciding on the matter. He also said that students will be informed 15 days prior to the commencement of the exams.

It needs mention here that HSLC students have to appear in 6 subjects and those in HS are to appear in 5 subjects. However, due to the ongoing pandemic, they may be given the special opportunity this time to appear in only 3/4 subjects of their choice, both in HSLC/AHM and HS exams. The examinations will be held in offline mode.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday stated that the decision on holding the class 12 exams in the state will be taken only after the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) announces modalities for marking the students. He further said that a decision in this matter will be taken after consultation with all stakeholders as it is a question of a students’ future.