Maharashtra state board exams for classes 10, 12 postponed due to Covid-19

Maharashtra Board Exams 2021: The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) on Monday postponed the class 10 and 12 board examinations scheduled to be held in April, amid rising cases of coronavirus infection in the country. State Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad said that the Maharashtra Board 10th board exams will be conducted in June while the class 12 board exams will be conducted in May.

The Maharashtra board exams were scheduled to start on April 23 and April 29 for classes 10 and 12, respectively. The board was also planning to conduct special exams for students in June.

Maharashtra Education Minister said, "We’ve postponed state board exams for class 10th and 12th. Class 12th exams will be held by end of May, while 10th standard exams will be in June. Fresh dates will be announced accordingly."

"Keeping in mind the schedule of entrance exams for professional courses, class 12th exams will be held by end of May, while 10th standard exams will be in June. We are closely monitoring the health situation. Fresh dates for these exams will be announced accordingly." the minister tweeted.

The decision was taken due to rising cases of Covid-19 in the state and across India. Many students, and parents were demanding a postponement in the board exams. 

The health situation was being closely monitored and fresh dates for the postponed exams would be announced soon, Gaikwad said.

The decision is the outcome of consultations with various stakeholders, like students, teachers, parents, elected representatives from across parties, academicians and tech giants, the minister said.

"We'll also be writing to the CBSE, ICSE, IB, Cambridge boards, requesting them to reconsider their exams dates," she said.

Thanking Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray for approving the decision, Gaikwad said during the consultations, various alternative assessment options were evaluated keeping the health, well-being and future of students in mind.

"Postponing exams seemed to be the most pragmatic solution," she added.

On Sunday, Maharashtra recorded 63,294 new cases of coronavirus, its highest single-day rise since the pandemic broke out, which pushed the caseload to 34,07,245, as per official figures.

"Three states have so far confirmed postponement of the State Board exams for Class 10th and 12th. Given the immediate situation on ground, and the fact that not only is there a strong surge in the second wave of Covid-19 cases, but also that this strain has started to affect children, the decision has to be respected. However, the underlying issue remains. On one side, there is the element of safety and fear of infection, on the other it is absolutely unfair to students who would have peaked just in time in their preparedness for the board exams – Repeated postponement will burn them out. The government however unlike earlier must use this postponement period to set a task force in place to set a step by step procedure and execute a Plan B to conduct the exams should the situation not improve after the postponement period. Getting Plan B in place will assuage the nervousness of the parents, teachers, students and school managements who today have no clarity as to what will happen if the current situation continues", said Mr Vinesh Menon, CEO- Education, Skilling & Consulting Services of Ampersand Group.

(With PTI inputs)