Shimla/Delhi (UNI) 28th April, 2020
Deputy Chief Minister and Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia said it was not feasible to conduct the remaining CBSE Board exams for Classes 10 and 12 anytime soon, during a meeting called by HRD Ministry with Education Ministers of all States. Attending a video-conference, hosted by Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ with Education Ministers of all states and Union Territories, Mr Sisodia made three key suggestions.
He suggested that no further exams of class 10 &12 be conducted by CBSE in the remaining 83 papers, including 26 important ones now. Instead, a decision be taken to follow the same process that is being adopted in case of Classes 9 and 11. Sisodia suggested that NCERT and CBSE should reduce the syllabus of the next academic cycle by 30 per cent in all classes. The reduced syllabus of class 12 should also be applicable on the entrance exams for the session 2021-22.
He further requested that MHRD should step in to get Doordarshan and AIR FM to provide airtime for live broadcasting of classes by Delhi Government teachers. Explaining the rationale of not conducting any further board exam this year, Sisodia said, ‘Due to the need of social distancing, it will not be feasible to conduct remaining exams for Class 10 and 12 students even in May-June. Having exam thereafter will delay the next academic cycle heavily.
‘Other states have their own state boards, but Delhi has CBSE as it’s board. Most students of CBSE come from Delhi. Therefore, I appeal to the Union HRD Minister that CBSE be asked to take a similar route for promoting the students, as it proposed for classes 9 and 11. ‘In these uncertain times, I don’t know if we would be able to conduct examinations again, so on the basis of same formula like internal assessments, papers already conducted, etc the students of classes 10 and 12 too should be evaluated. This will help us not waste our students’ time and help us not push their academic cycles further and get their studies hampered.’
Sisodia also proposed the reduction of syllabus by 30 per cent in all classes for the academic session 2020-21. ‘Thirty per cent syllabus should be curtailed from NCERT and CBSE for the next academic year. All assessments should be conducted from this 70 per cent syllabus that will be taught to our students. Same 70 per cent syllabus should be the basis of entrance exams like JEE and NEET for their competitive exam in 2021.’
During his discussion with the Union HRD Minister, who had called upon a meeting with the Education Ministers of the States and Union Territories to take stock of the status of the ongoing online education system for the students amid the lockdown and shutdown of schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sisodia highlighted that the Education Department of Delhi is working with best organisations (in education domain) to smoothly transition into online mode of education.
‘We are using the online medium and collaborating with the best organisations (in the education domain) to conduct online classes for our students. But, I would further want to request the MHRD to provide us with Doordarshan and AIR slots for broadcasting our own classes. ‘I would request you to give us separate slots for elementary, secondary and senior secondary education. If you grant us the slots, we will have our teachers on board to conduct the classes and air as per our lesson plan,’ he said.
‘In Delhi Government schools, among secondary and senior secondary grades, about 68 per cent students have access to smartphone at their home. As soon as the lockdown reduces, then I doubt that even those 68 per cent students will have access to a smartphone. So, it is very important for us to reach the parents and the students through the medium of Doordarshan and All India Radio with our classes and content,’ Sisodia said. Highlighting that the Education Department of Delhi Government had also written to the MHRD in this regard, the Education Minister of Delhi said, ‘The Education Department has also written to you on April 27. If you can come to a decision on this, then we will be able to start with the broadcast of our live/interactive classes too for students. ‘It is beneficial for the kids, who have no or limited access to smartphones, it will provide a viable alternative to them,’ he added.
