Conduct exams for failed students of class IX, XI: CBSE to schools

NAGPUR: CBSE has asked all affiliated schools to conduct exams for failed students of Std IX and XI, if not done already. These exams are internally conducted and assessed. Since these classes are outside the purview of RTE, students do not have the safety cover of a guaranteed promotion to the next class.
In a notification dated July 23, CBSE’s controller of examination (CoE) Sanyam Bhardwaj said schools must proceed with the examinations for such students, if not done so already.Bhardwaj informed schools that online, offline and/or innovative tests may be taken to ensure compliance. CBSE has not set any time frame for these tests to be conducted. Bhardwaj has written to schools that these must be done “as and when possible”.
Reena Dargan, chairperson of Nagpur Sahodaya Schools’ Complex, said this would be applicable to hardly a few schools. “I believe almost every school has already completed these internal exams. March is usually when most of us conduct these exams. There is no point in keeping Std IX and XI failures in suspended animation for so long. There might have been some who missed out due to the lockdown,” said Dargan.
Last week, the Maharashtra state board, too, issued similar instructions to all affiliated schools to ensure that students who failed in Std IX and XI get pushed to the next grade. The only difference, however, is that state board has been specific about the type of exams. Ashok Gavhankar, a senior state board academician, said “These exams have to be conducted through online oral tests.”