July 6, 2021

Cancellation of PUC Board Exams 2021: Impact on Students

Over the past year and a half, we have faced a situation that our generation has never faced before. The COVID-19 pandemic came as a shocker to almost every single person that had placed any form of trust in our long-functioning systems. In the face of this challenge, we were forced to reconsider every aspect of our daily lives and re-calibrate all systems — including education. 

The pandemic has created the largest disruption of education systems in human history, affecting nearly 1.6 billion learners in more than 200 countries. Closures of schools, institutions, and other learning spaces have impacted more than 94% of the world’s student population.

The situation in Karnataka has not been any different. The second wave of COVID led to another lockdown. As for the 12th board examination, Education Minister S. Suresh Kumar announced the decision regarding the pending examinations on the 4th of June. He shared that they had done all the preparation but students are divided on whether to give exams or not. Hence, the state has decided to cancel the 2nd PUC exam.

• Reasons for the Cancellation: 

Earlier the state government had shared its intent to conduct the examination. A tentative date for Karnataka SSLC, 2nd PUC examinations was awaited. However, after CBSE decided to cancel the Class 12 Board Examinations, many students demanded the state government follow the same. 

Hon. Minister Shri Suresh Kumar said that the decision to scrap the 2nd PUC Examination was taken keeping the safety and concerns of the students in mind. With the decision, Karnataka joins other states like Gujarat, Haryana, and even Uttar Pradesh to cancel the Class 12 Examinations. 

• How Are the Students Going to Be Assessed?

Students of class 12 will be assessed based on their 11th-grade marks. If a student is not satisfied with their marks and would like to appear for the Class 12 exams, they can do so after the COVID-19 situation in the state normalizes.

• Effects on Academic Future of Students: 

The education board is planning on formulating an alternative model of assessment for future academic goals. Will the final marks be an average of the past three years or the year-long tests, projects, and pre-board exams? Will that be fair to those who were preparing to improve their scores in the final exams?

Educationists stress this decision as an opportunity to re-evaluate the concept of board exams which are seen as all-important milestones in a child’s educational life. After all, a three-hour paper exam is not a good judge of a student’s capabilities. Doing away with board exams could pave the way for more entrance exams for colleges and universities to accurately judge the potential, interests, and capabilities of students. 

Students and academic counselors, however, fear that an assessment model which takes an average of the entire year’s tests may lead to an unfair basis for college admissions. “It may have a long-lasting impact on the academic cycle and inequality will be there, causing incompetent students to get admission in good colleges leaving behind the meritorious ones. After this move, universities should also revise their cut-offs and give ease in the admission entrance test,” says Anurag Gupta, co-founder at STEMROBO Technologies, an ed-tech company that conducts online classes.

• Impact of Online Education on Students Life: 

Educational institutions can provide engaging online classes along with co-scholastic activities and regular peer-to-peer interaction have seen better mental health among students. For others, it has become monotonous, which has led to a rise in anxiety and hyperactivity among children and teens. 

Dr. Kannan Gireesh, psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and founder, Live Life Education says, “What they are lacking is peer-to-peer learning. Social learning is not happening as they do not have friends to talk to and build new friendships. Building friendships is very important especially in the lower age groups, which gives them security and self-esteem that gives them a sense of belonging.”

According to a survey by Gallup, nearly 3 in 10 parents said their child is experiencing emotional or mental anxiety because of social distancing and school closures. Even though we are driven by necessity now, we need a massive reform to counteract the other unintended problems that are cropping up in the lives of students. 

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