Dubai: Indian students in the UAE heaved a collective sigh of relief on Friday over being exempted from re-examination in Grade 10 mathematics and Grade 12 economics that was announced last week.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), a leading Indian education body, announced on Friday that re-examination for Grade 10 students would be held in only Delhi and Haryana states of India and re-examination in economics for Grade 12 students would be held on April 25. All CBSE students outside India will not have to appear for the re-examination.
In the UAE, the decision had affected 8,474 students of Grade 10 and about 2,713 students of Grade 12 who had chosen economics as their elective subject.
The CBSE had announced re-examination for millions of students in CBSE schools worldwide for Grade 10 mathematics and Grade 12 economics following reports of question papers in these subjects being leaked over the social media.
While this had upset all CBSE students of these grades in India, in the UAE, it had sent wave of shock and dismay in the student and teacher communities as most Grade 12 students have hardly any time to prepare for their undergraduate entrance examinations that take place for engineering and medicine especially in India. A re-examination would have meant throwing a spanner into those plans.
Gulf News has learnt that considerable representation efforts made by schools in the Gulf Region were instrumental in the CBSE officials reviewing and reneging on the re-examination decision.
“This is really very heartening news for both the students and teachers and it will definitely lift the pall of gloom that had set over our students who were facing the prospects of giving a drop to entrance examinations for undergraduate admissions as a re-examination meant preparation and focus that was taking away precious time from their other schedule.”
“The re-examination in mathematics for Grade 10 was personally affecting me. In the UAE, all grade 10 students get virtually no vacation as we start Grade 11 after a week after board examinations. This decision was worrisome as it meant we would be in Grade 11 juggling those studies and at the same time prepare for the mathematics exam which is so crucial. Our performance and results both were likely to be affected.”
Shraddha Menon, a Grade 10 student, was elated that UAE students were rewarded for their honesty but disappointed that the CBSE was singling out students of two states in India for a re-examination.
“We are happy here as we worked very hard and there was absolutely no question of cheating or dishonesty. But in principle, if these papers were leaked on social media, how is it that only students of Haryana and Delhi have to suffer? It should be either all have to appear or none. I personally have no problems appearing for a re-examination only if the CBSE officials promise to keep the level of difficulty in the paper at the same level as the previous one.”
Abraham Manohar, head of the senior section at the Indian High School, said he was thrilled with the news.
“It is a great relief as our students do not have to slog and we as teachers can now focus on the new class. Otherwise, this decision would have upset our academic calendar as we would not be able to focus on the new Grade 11 students. “
For Grade 12 students who are appearing for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) in India on April 8 for admissions to premium undergraduate courses, this is a great relief.
Abhay M., a Grade 11 science student, is travelling to India on Monday.
“I was to go for my JEE coaching last week to India but had to postpone it. I am happy I will get a few days of stress-free preparation before April 8.”
According to CBSE spokesperson Rama Sharma, 1.6 million students appear for Grade 10 examinations and 1.1 million for Grade 12 exams worldwide.
In the GCC, 22,542 students are appearing for the ongoing board examinations for CBSE Grade 10 and 14,694 for Grade 12 examinations.
