Amid COVID-19 spike, IB cancels exams across India; status of exams in all states

The International Baccalaureate (IB) on Thursday said it has canceled its examinations across the country amid a surge in coronavirus cases.

The IB has informed schools of our decision not to hold examinations in India due to rising cases of COVID-19 , and following ongoing conversations with our schools, associations and education boards, it said in an official statement.

India will follow the non-examination route for the diploma programme, the career-related programme, and the alternative task for the middle years programme, the board said.

"We intend that the results of students in India should be awarded using coursework marks and predicted grades for the May 2021 session, as described in the awarding model outlined in February. For more details on the May 2021 session, students, parents and teachers are encouraged to talk to their school's IB coordinator," the statement added.

This comes a day after the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), on Wednesday announced the cancellation of Class 10 exams and postponed Class 12 exams. States like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh had also followed suit and decided to postpone the state board exams.

The Telangana government on Thursday ordered the cancellation of class 10 board exams, saying the result will be prepared on the basis of an objective criteria developed by the SSC board,  and postponed the second-year intermediate exams. A review of the Class 12 exam will be held in the first week of June and the dates of the exams will be announced at least 15 days in advance, said a government order.

The Board of School Education Haryana (BSEH) on Thursday cancelled Class 10 board exams and deferred the Class 12 examinations.

बड़ी खबर: CBSE की तर्ज पर हरियाणा बोर्ड की 10वीं की परीक्षा को रद्द कर दिया गया है. राज्य सरकार ने 12वीं की परीक्षाओं को भी स्थगित कर दिया है. pic.twitter.com/pEqCRKTWOI

— DPR Haryana (@DiprHaryana) April 15, 2021

According to reports, Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday announced that students of Classes 5, 8 and 10 will be promoted without an examination. The CMO said a decision regarding the PSEB Class 12 exams, which have already been postponed,  would be taken later based on the coronavirus situation in the state.

Some states like Andhra Pradesh reportedly said the board examinations will be held as per schedule. Meghalaya deputy chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said the state board will hold class 12 examinations as per schedule but added that the state government is waiting for an update of the review conducted by Additional Chief Secretary DP Wahlang, in charge of education, for holding the Class 10 examination.

The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) on Wednesday said it is reviewing the COVID-19 situation and will soon take a decision on conducting the Class 10 and 12 board exams.

West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said an appropriate decision will be taken giving priority to the health of students. The exams are scheduled to start in June.

Maharashtra education minister Varsha Gaikwad said the state government would study and discuss the CBSE's move of cancelling its Class 10 exam.

Maharashtra, along with Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab, had already announced changes in the board exam schedule while officials in Jharkhand , Odisha and Assam, had said the exams would be held as per schedule. Tamil Nadu has also scrapped the Class 10 board exams this year.

Following is the state-wise schedule of board exams. It is to be noted that the situation remains fluid and students are advised to keep checking for updates in their respective states.

With inputs from PTI