‘Cancel CBSE board exams 2021’: Priyanka Gandhi writes to Ramesh Pokhriyal as Centre continues with schedule
Priyanka spoke out on Friday too - a day after the CBSE said it would take "adequate safety arrangements" - and said holding the exams was "downright irresponsible", Rahul backed.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has urged Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal to consider cancelling board exams for class 10 and 12 CBSE school students as the country grapples with an alarming rise in COVID-19 cases.
Over 1.5 lakh COVID-19 cases were reported on Sunday, a record single-day jump in the daily infections.
Priyanka herself is self-isolating at her Delhi residence after her husband Robert Vadra tested positive for the virus.
Priyanka Gandhi said that if the students were made to sit in crowded exam halls for the CBSE board exams at a time when more than a lakh new coronavirus cases were coming to light in India per day, then the government and CBSE would be held responsible in case the exam centres turned into Covid-19 hotspots.
“The government and the CBSE board might want to consider whether they are prepared to own the legal liability for students or others who might be severely affected by the disease in this manner,” she said in her letter.
She said with over one lakh cases of COVID-19 being reported across the country, lakhs of children and parents have expressed fear and apprehension about assembling at exam centres to sit for the exams in the middle of the second wave of COVID-19.
Vadra said the apprehensions of students are well founded, as giving exams under the spectre of a deadly disease will cause unnecessary anxiety to children and impact their ability to perform as well.
“They are rightfully requesting that the exams be cancelled under the prevailing circumstances.
Furthermore, she added,”They (students) are rightfully requesting that the exams be cancelled under the prevailing circumstances. I do hope that the Government will engage in a dialogue with schools, students and their parents so that a safer way for them to fulfil their educational obligations can be found. Rather than forcing them into a potentially dangerous situation, it would be in the fitness of things for them to be given the support, encouragement and protection that is due to them at this very trying time.”
This morning actor Sonu Sood – who in August last ear also supported deferring NEET and JEE because of the Covid pandemic – tweeted a video appeal.
“I request everyone to support students who are forced to appear for offline board exams in these tough times. With the number of cases rising to 145k a day I feel there should be an internal assessment method to promote them rather than risking so many lives,” he said.
According to the revised date sheet for CBSE board exams 2021, the Class 10 exams would be held between May 4 and June 7, and those for Class 12 would be held between May 4 and June 15. But since the number of COVID-19 cases are rising, there have been demands from students, parents for cancelling the examinations. Over one lakh students have already signed a petition to the CBSE in this regard. CBSE officials, however, said as per COVID guidelines exam centers across the country have been increased by 40-50 per cent to ensure social distancing among students.
