Ramesh Pokhriyal to consult teachers, parents and students over conduction of board and entrance exams

Union Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal said on Friday that the school board exams and competitive exams will only be conducted next year after seeking advice from the parents, students, and teachers across the country.

The competitive examination cycle and admission process in colleges has still not come to an end in the country yet though it is almost the end of the academic session 2020-21 according to the school academic calendars. The education minister said conducting examinations is not less than a challenge amid the pandemic.

"Despite the uncertainty looming around due to COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to conduct board examinations as well as entrance examinations for admission to higher educational institutions,” Nishank told reporters, according to PTI.

The education minister further said that he will have an interaction with parents, students, and teachers in this regard and exams will only be conducted based on the outcome of the interaction.

“I understand that 2020 hasn't been the best year for students and they are worried about their future. I will be meeting the students live on December 3 to discuss the upcoming competitive and board exams,” he said.

The schools across the country were shut down in March due to



the Covid-19 pandemic and the nationwide lockdown, but the Ministry of Home Affairs permitted states to reopen the schools from October 16. Some states have decided to keep the schools closed due to the spike in the number of cases.

The board exams that were being conducted in March had to be postponed mid-way. The exams were later cancelled and the results were announced on the basis of an alternative assessment scheme. Competitive exams like JEE and NEET were also postponed twice this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The JEE Main 2021 examination, which was scheduled for January, will now most likely be held in February due to the rise in the number of Covid-19 cases. There have been demands for postponement of board exams to May in view of the continued closure of schools and conduction of online classes.

The JEE Main examination, which is conducted for admission into engineering courses, is conducted in January and April every year. This year, the April examination was postponed twice due to the rise in the number of Covid-19 cases across the country.

Engineering admissions are currently still underway in the country and the number of Covid-19 cases is increasing which is making the authorities postpone the January examinations.