Examination-related Activities for Students of Classes 9 to 12 Stopped in Delhi Schools Due to COVID-19

Examination-related activities for all students of classes 9 t 12 have been stopped, and all schools have been closed in Delhi schools with immediate effect due to the rising COVID-19 cases in the country. While its unknown if this order will be lifted before CBSE Board Exams 2021, the notification from the Directorate Of Education (DoE) says that this rule will be in place until further orders.

Delhi schools were being allowed to call students from classes 9 to 12 to attend classes and practicals with their parents’ consent to help them prepare for the upcoming board exams. Students were attending classes while following the standard operating procedure to seek guidance regarding mid-term and annual examinations-related activities.

However, the latest order from the DoE reads: “In view of the sudden surge in the cases of COVID-19 in Delhi, all the Heads of Government, Government Aided and Unaided Recognised Schools are hereby informed that conduct of all Academic and Examination Activities through physical mode shall remain suspended with immediate effect till further orders. They are further directed to ensure that no student of Classes IX to XII is called in the school physically for any kind of Academic or Examination Activity (like Practice of Practicals, Mid Term & Annual Examination related work i.e., Practical, Project Submission, Assessments etc.) till further orders.”

DoE maintains that no student from any class can be called physically, and all teaching must be continued in the digital mode. Arvind Kejriwal, chief minister of New Delhi, has confirmed this development. “Due to increasing cases of COVID-19, all schools (including government, private) in Delhi are being closed for all classes till further orders,” he said.

The CBSE Board Exams 2021 are scheduled to begin from 4 May 2021. Students and parents have been requesting the Government of India to either cancel or at least postpone board examinations due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country. However, CBSE has so far maintained that examinations will be conducted as scheduled.