Modi calls meet with HRD minister, top officials over board exams issue

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called a meeting with Union human resource development minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and top officials today, amid a chorus calling for the cancellation of board examinations for Classes X and XII due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

India saw the largest single day spike in coronavirus infections with 1,84,372 new infections and 1,027 deaths.

ALSO READ: Complete ban on gatherings under Sec 144 in COVID-hit Maharashtra

Examinations for classes X and XII are scheduled to begin on May 4. According to sources, a decision on the examination could be taken at a meeting chaired by the prime minister.

In the wake of increase in COVID-19 incidents, the demand for cancellation of the board exams for classes X and XII grew louder on Tuesday, despite the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) saying it has not taken any decision in this regard.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia have appealed to the Centre to cancel the tests, claiming that the test centres could become super spreaders and that alternative assessment methods should be investigated.

ALSO READ: Bihu back home in Assam, Riyan sets the cricket field on fire; watch…

“In Delhi, six lakh students will take CBSE exams. It will include nearly one lakh teachers. The centres have the potential to become major hotspots, resulting in widespread coronavirus spread. We place a high value on the lives and welfare of children. I insist that the CBSE exams be cancelled by the Centre,” the Delhi CM said.

Last week, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi requested Union HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal to intervene and direct CBSE to reconsider its decision to conduct the exams.

Follow us on Facebook