Haryana Cancels Class 10 Board Exams, Postpones Class 12 Exams

Haryana state board exams for Class 10 students have been cancelled and Class 12 exams have been postponed, state education minister said on Thursday.

Kanwar Pal Gujjar, the Education Minister of Haryana, made the announcement on Thursday. He said, "On the lines of the CBSE Board, we have decided to cancel Class 10th board exams and postpone Class 12th exams. Class 10th students will be evaluated based on internal assessment."

On the lines of the CBSE Board, we have decided to cancel Class 10th board exams and postpone Class 12th exams. Class 10th students will be evaluated based on internal assessment: Haryana Education Minister Kanwar Pal Gujjar pic.twitter.com/f5Bo994IPH

— ANI (@ANI) April 15, 2021

The state had earlier maintained that the Board of School Education Haryana (BSEH) exams will be conducted as per schedule. Earlier the dates for class 10 board exams were set as April 22 to May 15. The Class 12 board exams were to be held from April 20 to May 17.

According to a report, the chairperson of BSEH, Dr Jagbir Singh had said, "The state board is all prepared to conduct the board exams as per the schedule. However, the final decision will be taken after the meeting with the education minister, which is scheduled to be conducted today i.e on April 15." The Education Minister then made the announcement after the meeting.

The decision to postpone and cancel the exams have been taken in the wake of COVID-19 cases which have seen a sudden surge in the state.

While many expressed relief after CBSE cancelled Class 10 board exams, some objected as to why students of Class 12 are being made to give exams. According to the official order, the final decision on Class 12 board exams will be taken after accessing the situation of the pandemic on June 1.

Students also raised concerns over the internal assessment criteria through which class 10 students will be promoted. Many pointed out that all schools have different ways to conduct the internal assessment and it might have an advantage for students who have to go through easier methods compared to those who have to go through tougher methods used by their schools.