Class 12 State board exams of Assam, Tripura, Karnataka cancelled, Supreme

POINTERS OF THE DEVELOPMENT

1. Developments regarding Cancellation of Exam

On June 1, 2021, CBSE Class 12 exams got cancelled. The decision came after a high-level review meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the ground that the health and safety of our students cannot be compromised.

The CBSE decided to scrap the Class 12 exams on account of the pandemic and other national education boards including CISCE followed. CBSE had already scraped the Class 10 exams earlier, the objective evaluation criteria for preparation of the cancelled Class 10 results 2021 is now known.

2. Declare the assessment criteria of class 12th

A petition was filed in Supreme Court in view of the COVID-19 pandemic across the country before the Bench of Hon’ble Mr Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari by advocate Mamta Sharma to issue a writ of mandamus directing the board to devise an objective methodology to declare the result within a specific time frame.

3. New Development

Presently on Monday hearing before the court, the state of Assam, Tripura and Karnataka informed the Supreme Court that they have cancelled their Class 12 state board exams in view of the ongoing Covid-19 situation as published in Shillong Times. The above confirmation was received through the counsels of the respective states before the court.

The court was also apprised about the batch of a petition challenging the cancellation, which has not got listed.

4. In principle agreement on the Assessment criteria

On June 17, 2021, CBSE had said before the court for Class 12, marks based on unit test/mid-term/pre-board exam will have 40 per cent weightage; Class 11 marks based on theory component of the final exam will have 30 per cent weightage; and Class 10 marks, based on average theory component of best three performing subjects out of main 5 subjects, will have 30 per cent weightage. The CBSE informed the top court that results for Class 12 exams will be declared by July 31. The marks in Classes X, XI and XII will be considered in a 30:30:40 ratio to prepare the final result of Class XII students of CBSE as the Supreme Court on Thursday accepted ‘in principle’ the evaluation criteria submitted to it.

Presenting a set of “objective criteria” for evaluation of Class XII students, Attorney General KK Venugopal has already told the bench led by Justice AM Khanwilkar that marks in the best of three subjects would be considered for the purpose for Class X, XI and XII.

The Supreme Court in principle accepted the scheme proposed by both CBSE and ICSE, saying no prejudice would be caused to students who want to appear for exams. 

For an 80 marks theory paper, students will mark out of 24, 24, 32 respectively on basis of class 10, 11, and 12.

For a 70 marks theory paper, students will mark out of 21, 21, 28 respectively on basis of class 10, 11, and 12.

For a 60 marks theory paper, students will mark out of 18, 18, 24 respectively on basis of class 10, 11, and 12.

For a 50 marks theory paper, students will mark out of 15, 15, 20 respectively on basis of class 10, 11, and 12.

For a 30 marks theory paper, students will mark out of 9, 9, 12 respectively on basis of class 10, 11, and 12.

For the X exam, CBSE has already laid assessment criteria. The total marks weightage is distributed in the 20:80 between internal assessments and exams conducted/projects/unit-tests conducted throughout the year by respective schools.

5. ICSE Board

However, the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) proposed to compute marks based on the performance of students in the last six years.

6. Students dissatisfied with marks

Students dissatisfied with the marks or grades awarded to them through this mechanism will have the option of improving upon their marks/grades by appearing in physical examinations after the Covid situation gets under control.

7. Intervention Application

Senior Advocate Vikas Singh has filed an intervention. He says that he is in favour of examination. Mr Vikas Singh appearing for intervenor submitted that the decision of CBSE and ICSE to cancel the exam be revisited. We state that this cannot be taken forward.  The court updated that they have already accepted the in-principle decision taken by the Board and placed it before them. Students who want to appear can do so for improvisation of marks and that takes care of the students who want to appear. In other words, no prejudice will be caused to students who want to appear.

8. Scheme to incorporate Dispute resolution

The court observed that they have no reservation to accept the scheme and the Board can proceed on the same. However, the scheme must incorporate the provision for dispute resolution in case students want correction of final result declared. Second is for declaration of results and when the timeline for optional exams would be declared. Both the Boards have submitted that the same will be done.