By Sajeev K Peter

KUWAIT: India's Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided to cancel remaining examinations for grades 10 and 12 for affiliated schools outside India in view of the crisis situation prevailing across the world in the aftermath of coronavirus outbreak, a statement issued by the Board said on Wednesday.

The decision will have serious implications on hundreds of thousands of students who are studying in schools spread over 25 countries across the world. The CBSE had earlier postponed all the board examinations that were scheduled to be held between March 19 and March 31 in 2020 following the outbreak of COVID-19.

"The situation is totally unpredictable. Nobody knows how long this crisis will persist," said Dr V. Binumon, Principal, Indian Community School and CBSE Counsellor and NCTE Standing Committee Member. The coronavirus outbreak has paralyzed higher education system all over the world. Countries including United States, the UK, Canada and Australia have cancelled their examinations, he said.

The CBSE's decision has brought some relief to the students in Kuwait who have been on the tenterhooks ever since the crisis erupted over COVID-19, leading to lockdowns, school closures and postponements of exams. However, a question mark hangs over CBSE as to how it is going to solve the problem of examinations and announcement of results.

"Each of these countries is also under lockdown and /or has decided to close down the schools for various and differential lengths of time. Under such circumstances, it is felt that the Board will not be in a position to hold differential set of exams for each of these countries. Also, in the present situation, it will be difficult to bring the answer books to India for evaluation purposes.

Therefore, the Board has decided not to hold and more exams for the students of Class 10 and 12 schools located outside India. The system of marking/assessment for the purpose of declaring results will be worked out by the Board shortly and informed to these schools," the CBSE statement said.

The statement further said: "It is informed that any decision that the board will take with regard to the conduct of examinations will be taken by undertaking extensive consultations with higher education authorities and by keeping all aspects related to entrance exams, admissions dates, etc. in mind."

Concerns
Dispelling concerns of the students, the CBSE Board has reportedly communicated to affiliated schools abroad that it would device some mechanism to declare results of the students studying abroad. "The CBSE would safeguard the interest of the students at highest level. The regional officer, CBSE, Delhi East will soon send a communication to various schools to this effect," a reliable source revealed.

Meanwhile, students from various Indian schools in Kuwait greeted the news with mixed responses. Many heaved a sigh of relief as the announcement put an end to the uncertainty regarding the examinations during the time of lockdown.

"I am a bit relieved now. We were all worried about our exams in this time of corona," said Andrea Joseph, a student of an Indian school in Salmiya. Many others also shared Andrea's sentiment as the decision has brought an end to their long waiting. At the same time, many others appeared worried wondering whether they will lose one academic year if the exams are not held this year. "I am worried. We pray we don't lose one academic year. But what to do, it is a global situation," rued Fathima, a student of ICSK.

"I am worried as a parent because I am not sure how my daughter can travel to India now, make it on time for admissions and entrance exams," said Uday Menon, father of Shruthi, a grade 12 student. But Firoz Khan, another parent sounded more pragmatic. "We all are passing through extraordinary circumstances. There will be disruptions, dislocations and destructions across the world. We will have to face them."