According to reports, the CBSE and CISCE are considering a number of options for the upcoming Class 12 board exams, including cancelling them and adopting an alternate assessment path, or continuing with the tests in a reduced format, in light of the COVID-19 scenario.
"While majority states have favored the option proposed by the CBSE about shorter duration exams for major subjects in August, the COVID-19 situation is still being reviewed and cancellation of exams and marking students on basis of previous exams is still an option," a source said.
Meanwhile, the CICSE board has requested that its associated schools submit the average of class 12 pupils' grades from class 11 and this session. While the board has not stated if the exercise indicates a likely exam cancellation, schools have already begun trying to meet the board's June 7 deadline.
The Ministry of Education, on the other hand, insisted that "Nothing is set in stone yet, and a final decision is expected by June 1. The minister has already stated that student safety is a top priority, but these exams are also critical ".
A plea seeking directives to annul the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) class 12 exams will be heard by the Supreme Court on May 31 amid a surge in COVID-19 cases across the country.
"Be optimistic. Maybe by Monday (May 31), some resolution will be there," a bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari told the petitioner in a hearing on Friday.
After a considerable number of students and parents demanded that tests be canceled, the ministry convened a high-level conference last Sunday to discuss the issue, which was also attended by state education ministers and secretaries.
The CBSE had offered two options: holding regular tests at recognised centres for only main courses or having shorter-duration tests at the student's school.
Exams were to be held between July 15 and August 26, with results to be announced in September, according to the scheduled schedule. States were given until May 25 to submit specific proposals.
The majority of states chose the second option, which involved administering 90-minute tests in major topics at students' homes. A few states also required students to be vaccinated before taking the examinations.
The CICSE which has been completely silent so far about its plan for the class 12 exams, sent out a letter to its affiliated schools on May 27 to submit average of marks obtained by class 12 students in class 11 and during this session.
"The CISCE is in the process of collating and collecting data from all our schools presenting candidates for class 12 examination. You are, therefore, requested to provide the requested information for Class 12 candidates," CISCE Secretary Gerry Arathoon said in a letter to school principals marked as "strictly confidential".
The board is looking for average marks in topics scored by candidates in class 11 (2019-20) and average marks in subjects achieved in various tests and examinations administered by the school during class 12 (2019-20). (2020-21).
Mr Arathoon has not responded to whether the exercise is aimed at alternate evaluation rather than offline exams; nonetheless, connected institutions have acknowledged that they have received the letter.
Due to the aggressive second wave of the COVID-19 epidemic, both boards postponed the Class 12 exams scheduled for May-June. Class 10 exams had been cancelled by both CBSE and ICSE.