Reconsider conducting CBSE exams, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra writes to Education minister

Amid a surge in Covid-19 cases, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday asked Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank to reconsider conducting the CBSE examinations, fearing that the exam centres could prove to be hotspots for the spread of the disease.

“...by forcing the children to sit for these exams during a raging pandemic, the government and the CBSE board will be held responsible in the event that any of the exam centres prove to be hotspots at which large number of children become infected with the disease,” Priyanka said.

Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi also asked the CBSE to reconsider conducting the examinations in the light of the devastating second wave of the Covid-19.

“All stakeholders must be consulted before making sweeping decisions. On how many counts does the Government of India intend to play with the future of India’s youth,” Rahul asked.

Read | Decision to conduct CBSE exams from May 4 should be reconsidered: Rahul Gandhi

Shiv Sena leader Aditya Thackeray also said party MP Arvind Sawant had written a letter to Nishank seeking a national consensus and central guidance on conduct of examinations for Class 10 and Class 12 instead of various state governments taking different decisions.

In her letter to the minister, Priyanka said “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 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 the pandemic.

Priyanka 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.

Also Read | Priyanka Gandhi bats for online exams, says CBSE irresponsible to force students amid Covid-19 surge

“They are rightfully requesting that the exams be cancelled under the prevailing circumstances,” she said.

“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,” the AICC General Secretary 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.

CBSE officials have said that exam centres across the country have been increased by 40-50% to ensure social distancing among students.