Cancel CBSE 2021 board exams: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal joins Rahul Gandhi in appealing to Centre amid spurt in COVID-19 cases

The AAP Supremo said that conducting the board exams for over 6 lakh Delhi students can become major COVID-19 hotspots.

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday (April 13, 2021) appealed to the Centre to cancel the upcoming CBSE 2021 board exams due to a spurt in the COVID-19 cases.

"6 lakh children in Delhi are going to write CBSE exams. Nearly 1 lakh teachers will be a part of it. These can become major hotspots leading to the large-scale spreading of Corona. Children's lives & health is very important to us. I request Centre to cancel CBSE exams." Kejriwal said.

The Delhi CM added, "Some alternative methods could be thought of. Children can be promoted this time on the basis of either an online method or internal assessment. But CBSE exams should be cancelled."

बढ़ते कोरोना मामलों पर सरकार सतर्क है और हर ज़रूरी कदम उठा रही है | Press Conference | LIVE https://t.co/DU5XMgL5yJ — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 13, 2021

Earlier on April 11, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had also appealed to the central government to reconsider conducting the CBSE board exams in view of the ongoing second wave of COVID-19 across India.

He took to his official Twitter account to point out that all stakeholders must be consulted before making sweeping decisions and said "In the light of the devastating Corona second wave, conducting CBSE exams must be reconsidered. All stakeholders must be consulted before making sweeping decisions."

In the light of the devastating Corona second wave, conducting #CBSE exams must be reconsidered. All stakeholders must be consulted before making sweeping decisions.

On how many counts does GOI intend to play with the future of India’s youth? — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 11, 2021

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had also written a formal letter to the Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' asking him to reconsider allowing the CBSE to conduct exams amid the current surge in COVID-19 cases. 

देश भर में कोरोना के बढ़ते मामलों के बीच छात्रों व उनके अभिवावकों ने CBSE परीक्षा 2021 को लेकर कुछ वाजिब चिंताएं जाहिर की हैं।

My letter to the Minister of Education @DrRPNishank asking him to reconsider allowing the CBSE to conduct board exams under the prevailing COVID wave. pic.twitter.com/Ai4Zl796il — Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) April 11, 2021

The CBSE Class 10 exams are scheduled to be conducted between May 4 and June 7, and between May 4 and June 15 for Class 12 students. However, due to the prevailing coronavirus wave, there have also been demands from students and parents to postpone the CBSE board exams.