CBSE Cancels Board Exams in West Asia; Thousands of Students Await Alternative Evaluation Plan
In a significant development affecting thousands of Indian students studying abroad, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has called off the remaining Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations across several West Asian countries.
The decision has left students and parents eagerly waiting for clarity on how final results will be calculated, especially since many candidates had already taken part in their exams before the cancellation was announced.
According to CBSE data, approximately 29,000 candidates had enrolled for the Class 10 examinations, while nearly 23,000 students were registered for Class 12 across seven countries in the region.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), which hosts the largest number of CBSE-affiliated schools (around 110), accounts for a substantial share of these candidates.
In the UAE alone, about 13,669 students had signed up for Class 10, while 10,918 had registered for Class 12 board exams.
The examination cycle began in February, meaning students in these regions had already completed some of their papers before the remaining exams were first deferred and then scrapped.
Initially, CBSE postponed the scheduled exams earlier this month, but later issued official notifications confirming the cancellation. Class 10 exams were formally called off on March 5, followed by Class 12 on March 15.
A senior CBSE official indicated that the board will soon announce an alternative assessment framework for declaring results.
However, no concrete details have been released yet, leaving students uncertain about the evaluation criteria that will be adopted.
This is not the first time CBSE has faced such a widespread disruption. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, similar measures were implemented.
In 2020, when some exams had been conducted, and others could not take place, the board calculated scores for the cancelled subjects by averaging the highest marks obtained by students in the exams they had completed.
In 2021, when the exams were entirely cancelled, Class 12 results were determined using a combination of Class 10 and 11 academic performance, along with internal assessments such as unit tests, mid-term exams, and pre-board scores.
A similar internal evaluation approach was applied for Class 10 students that year.
At present, students are anxiously waiting for CBSE’s final announcement regarding the assessment methodology that will be used this time.
Meanwhile, in the UAE, schools are currently observing their spring vacation. Academic sessions are scheduled to resume next week, but classes will be conducted in an online format.
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