Unforeseen Hurdles: “CBSE Class 12 Practical Exams Postponed Amid Portal Closure”

In the latest twist of events surrounding the CBSE Board Exams 2024, the fate of Class 12 Practical Exams hangs in the balance. Widespread disruptions have unfolded as schools nationwide were compelled to cancel the scheduled practical examinations for both Class 12 and Class 10 on January 11, 2024. The primary culprit behind this upheaval is the CBSE Exam Sangam portal, which, crucially, remained closed.

Notably, top schools in the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) found themselves in a tight spot, necessitating the rescheduling of practical exams that were initially slated for the aforementioned date. The unavailability of the CBSE portal prompted the postponement of these exams, with revised dates contingent on the portal’s eventual opening.

To shed light on the significance of these practical exams, schools conduct internal assessments for classes 10 and 12, wielding a considerable weightage of 20 to 70 percent in determining the final results. Class 12 examinations, in particular, entail external examiners, and the marks obtained are geo-tagged and subsequently uploaded onto the CBSE portal through the official website.

Complicating matters further, the opening of the CBSE portal faced delays, pushing the scheduled date to January 11, 2024, whereas it was initially slated to commence operations from January 1. This unexpected delay left teachers and schools grappling to rearrange exam schedules. A notice from the board, issued late the night before, heightened the anxiety by confirming the portal’s opening on the afternoon of the scheduled day.

Ms. Singhal, a CBSE coordinator at a prominent Delhi school, shared the challenges faced by educational institutions: “We have to be mindful of delays. Every day is important, and cancellation of exams is always stressful for students. I know of at least 15 schools that had to cancel exams scheduled for today. We also canceled two practical exams of economics and chemistry today.”

Similar tales of scheduling errors and delays echoed across multiple teacher groups, underlining the pervasive impact of these unforeseen challenges. A teacher remarked, “We have lost a good 10 days due to the board’s delay.” However, the dates for theory exams remain unchanged, prompting a call for students to concentrate on their revision efforts despite these setbacks, as emphasized by Ms. Malini, a mother of a Class 12 student.

As of the latest update, the CBSE Pariksha Sangam portal is expected to open in the afternoon for the uploading of practical/internal assessment marks for class 10 and 12. Schools, exercising caution, are refraining from confirming the exact date for these crucial submissions.

Looking ahead, the CBSE 10th and 12th Board Exam 2024 for theory papers is set to commence on February 16, 2024. Impressively, around 38 lakh students from across the world have registered for the CBSE board exams this year. Despite the challenges, the board remains committed to releasing results by the end of May.