Class 12th Board Exams: 81% state board students feel unsafe visiting exam centre amid pandemic, reveals Shiksha survey
In a survey conducted by Shiksha.com, students appearing for state board intermediate exams across the country do not feel safe visiting the exam centre due to the pandemic situation and want the internal assessments to be used to evaluate students.
With the Centre announcing to conduct Class 12 board exams in offline mode, the students across 28 states and eight union territories in the country are filled with feelings of fear, anxiety, relief, and more. Shiksha.com conducted a survey to understand what intermediate students think about the conducting of board exams. The survey results show that they do not wish to write examinations in pen-and-paper mode as they fear getting infected with the virus. They feel that the evaluation, like Class 10, should be based on internal assessments. Read further to know about the survey results.
Internal assessments should be used instead of conducting exams
When confronted with the question if Class 12th exams be conducted or not, over 50 per cent of the respondents did not want to appear for the exams. They preferred evaluation based on internal assessments for the academic year 2020-21. Students wrote that the government should understand and cancel the board examinations as life is more precious than these tests.
Over 20 per cent wanted the exams to be conducted as according to them these are important for admissions to colleges. A little more than 15 per cent voted for optional board exams wherein the best of the two should be taken between internal assessments and board marks.
MCQs V/s 3-hour examinations
Responding to the question on the preferred format for holding the examinations, 35 per cent students wanted a question paper with multiple-choice (MCQs) and short-answer-type questions only. The students also wanted that the duration of the exams be reduced to 1 hour and 30 minutes from the regular 3 hours. However, an almost equal number of students (32 per cent) were ready to write the regular 3-hour exam.
Nearly 25 per cent opted for a normal 3-hour exam with objective and short answer type questions only. Many students wanted the government to take the exams online or conduct it in open book mode as the classes were also held in online mode.
Students do not feel safe visiting exam centre amid pandemic situation
With the centre agreeing to conduct exams in the offline mode, a staggering 81 per cent of respondents found it unsafe to visit the exam centre. They feared getting infected by the virus and thereby, infecting their families.
Over 40 per cent students found the situation depressing and difficult to concentrate on studies with so much panic around them due to the spread of Covid-19. Nearly 30% students also told that they had lost their near and dear ones to Covid-19 and were facing financial difficulties.
Competitive exams should be used as criteria for admissions to high-ed institutions
Due to uncertain environment regarding HSC/intermediate board exams 2021, students are worried about getting admissions to higher educational institutions. Nearly 50 per cent of the respondents believe that competitive exams should be the only criteria for admissions as they did not get time to focus on Class 12 studies through the year.
Nearly 20 per cent respondents were in favour of board marks as criteria for admissions as they’re targeting colleges where board marks determine the rank in the merit list while 15 per cent students felt that board marks were important for their academic records.
Cancellation of Class 12th board exams not to have a major impact on admissions and finding jobs
According to the survey, it is seen that a lower percentage of students (38 per cent) of state boards feel that cancellation of 12th board exams will have somewhat but not a major impact on their admissions to colleges and universities as compared to CBSE.
Over 30 per cent students felt that cancellation of the examinations will definitely have a huge impact on their chances of admissions while 25 per cent said that they will not be affected at all.
Union Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal will announce the final decision regarding CBSE 12th exams dates and exam pattern on June 1. He gave two options- to conduct a three-hour exam for main subjects only or conduct a normal exam with only MCQs and short-answer-type questions. All state ministers can choose what is best for their states depending on the pandemic situation.
Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia vouched for all students getting vaccinated before sitting for the exams. Maharashtra Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad said the option for the “non-examination route” for Mah Class 12 would be examined. Uttar Pradesh would take the final decision on UP Class 12 board exams this week, according to media reports.
This survey was conducted by Shiksha.com with the intent to bring forth varied opinions of intermediate students around the country on the critical issue of conducting offline board exams amid COVID-19 pandemic and to give it a data-centric approach. For any details or queries, please feel free to get in touch with us at deepank.paliwal@shiksha.com
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