Schools, colleges and educational institutions will remain closed till July 31, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Monday, June 29, 2020. As per the new guidelines, which will come into effect from July 1, the decision is based on the feedback received from States and UTs, and consultations held with related Central Ministries and Departments.

The MHA guidelines read:

“Schools, colleges, educational and coaching institutions will remain closed till 31 July, 2020. Online/distance learning shall continue to be permitted and shall be encouraged.

Training institutions of the Central and State Governments will be allowed to function from 15 July, 2020, for which Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be issued by the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT).”

Earlier, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has shared its decision to cancel the pending class 10 board examinations and make class 12 exam optional for students. Supreme Court bench led by J A M Khanwilkar heard the plea seeking cancellation of pending CBSE exams due to Covid-19.

SG Mehta stated to SC that the board has filed an affidavit considering reports submitted by the states. In effect, the board has decided not to conduct the exams from July 1. He said, “Our affidavit filed 30 minutes ago, states that taking into account suggestion from states, exams for class 10 and 12 from July 1 stands cancelled.” However, he added that class 12 exam is optional. CBSE has a scheme in which marks scored in past three exams will be considered. For class 12, the exams will be conducted “as soon as the situation is conducive”. Students who opt to appear for class 12 exams will have the marks they score as their final marks. ICSE Board has also shared that it would follow the decision of CBSE regarding the same. SC Advocate Rishi Malhotra who appeared for the petitioner shared that Maharashtra, Odisha and Delhi have said they cannot conduct the pending board examinations due to Covid-19.

Source: NDTV

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