GUWAHATI: The Assam education department has decided to canceled the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) and Higher Secondary (HS) final year exams for 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The decision has been announced by education minister Dr. Ranoj Pegu after a crucial meeting with several organizations of the state. The education department will constitute two committees to formulate the marking system. The results will be declared by July 31.
Earlier, in the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, Health Minister Keshab Mahanta said, "…The number of HSLC candidates is around 4.40 lakh and that of HS is around 2.50 lakh. Parents generally accompany their wards to the examination venues. Apart from them, there are teachers, cars, and other vehicles that are supposed to teem with the examination venues. It will be a gathering of around 20 lakh, and the COVID-19 protocol doesn't allow it. Moreover, various studies made it clear that the COVID-19 infection in the age group 11-18 years is ten percent. This is another factor that can't be ignored. Taking all these in view, besides the existing examination patterns in the State holding HSLC and HS examinations in the State doesn't seem to be a wise move."
It is to be noted that both the examinations were scheduled to be held on May 11. But due to the COVID situation, they were postponed. On the other hand, the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) has canceled both examinations across the nation.
Meanwhile, the SEBA and AHSEC have stated that they will conduct the examinations if the Health Department permits them. Earlier, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had stated that the examinations will be conducted if the COVID situation returns to normalcy.
This is a developing story.