CBSE cancels Class 12 exams in Gulf, students await fair evaluation

TDT | Manama

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The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has cancelled the Class 12 board examinations scheduled in several Gulf countries, including Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, affecting thousands of Indian students studying in CBSE-affiliated schools across the region.

Authorities said the decision was taken after reviewing the current situation in the Middle East, with student safety and well-being cited as the primary reason for cancelling the exams. CBSE is expected to announce an alternative evaluation method soon.

While parents across the Gulf recognize the need for caution, the sudden cancellation has left many anxious about their children’s academic future after months of preparation for board exams, hoping that CBSE provides a fair evaluation system soon. 

Speaking to TDT, Rashmi, a parent of a Class 12 CBSE student, said, “our major concern now is eligibility for entrance exams for higher education, especially for competitive exams where percentages and marks play a big role. If model exam marks are used as the evaluation criteria, they may not fully reflect students’ actual performance, as students tend to perform better in the final board examinations than in model or pre-board tests.” Rashmi said.

School leaders however say there’s no need for panic, expecting CBSE to adopt a fair evaluation system. Speaking to TDT, Dr. K. Gopinath Menon, Principal of New Indian School, said, “We are awaiting further details on the evaluation. As during covid, CBSE may consider marks from Class 11 and 12 pre-board or model exams, or Class 12 first and second term assessments. While some students perform better in board exams than in pre-boards, we trust CBSE to come up with a student-friendly formula, so there’s no need for stress or apprehension.”