In a significant announcement by India’s nodal school examination body, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), has said that students with disabilities can skip the 10th and 12th exams if they are Persons with Disability and need a scribe to take the exams.
As per a Board official, for students who choose not to appear, the Board will devise an ‘alternative assessment scheme’ and declare the CBSE Class 10 and 12 results 2020 based on the same.
The social distancing norms to prevent the spread of COVID-19 has also prompted the decision by the Board, says the official. Such students can inform their respective schools added the official and their results will be declared based on the alternative scheme that will be decided by the Board.
The Board has also issued a notification in this regard on its official website.
CBSE grants several exemptions to students with disabilities keeping following the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. The official was also quoted saying that from this year onwards, students registered under CWSN (children with special needs) category are also allowed to make use of basic calculators in addition to a computer or laptop (without internet), reader or scribe and extra time. This year, reportedly 6,844 students of Class 10 and 3,718students of Class 12 are under the CWSN category including students with muscular dystrophy, spastics, dyslexia, locomotor impairment, dwarfism, visual impairment, and others.
CBSE has scheduled the remaining Class 12 Board exams 2020 from 1st July to 15th July 2020. Additionally, the remaining CBSE Class 10 exam 2020 for a section of students in North-east Delhi is also scheduled to be held in July as well. In April, CBSE had announced that it will only conduct the pending CBSE Board exams 2020 in 29 subjects which are crucial for promotion and admission to higher educational institutions. Additionally, it also said that pending exams will not be conducted in foreign countries.
The Board is yet to announce the alternative scheme for assessment for students with disabilities as well as students in foreign countries.
