Given the pandemic situation, the traditional way of teaching has taken a back seat with online tutoring becoming more sought after by parents. Safety of their children is more important than anything and everything for a parent. 

Although the CBSE and NCERT in consultation with the  MHA is mulling reopening of schools post August 15, 2020 it looks very unlikely with the current situation where the cases are seeing an upward surge throughout the country. 

Keeping this in mind, it is important that the entire syllabus be taught to the students, but from an examination perspective, the children should get the privilege of writing the exam for 50% of the syllabus rather than for the entire syllabus. This way they would have acquired all the  necessary learning for Grade X.  

But now the students are attending online classes which is also quite stressful for them. They should have some relaxation from an exam perspective. Therefore, it is important that the NCERT and CBSE should consider reduction of portions of 50% for the exams so that it will help the student community at large and it will also help reduce the pressure on the minds of the students. 

I am writing this petition with an intention to support the students of Grade X. This particular academic year is a turning point in their lives and they should not be deprived of something which they are otherwise entitled. This could amount to leaving a permanent scar on their minds for a mistake that they never committed. Although the students are putting their best foot forward to acquire the knowledge and the skills to face the Board exams in 2021, in view of there being no regular classes, the children should be reduced of their burden of studying the entire syllabus for the exams which can be very taxing on their minds. Specially those children who are probably just above average or average performers will face lot of problems and these children are also more susceptible to depression if anything untoward happens with their results. Therefore it is extremely important to keep these factors in mind before taking a decision on reopening of schools. The WHO is also warning that children and the elderly are more vulnerable to infection of this deadly virus. Even if we assume that students of Grade X are mature enough to handle the situation, we cannot be ignorant of the fact that they can get infected from anyone not only their classmates. Right now they are in the comfort of their homes attending online classes. We need to be mindful of the fact that a whole lot of parents were quite skeptical to even send their children to write their X board exams despite the limited time of 3 hours that their children would be out of their homes. Considering this situation, the CBSE took a decision to cancel all the pending exams for academic year 2019-20 giving students safety the first priority. 

Similarly, the CBSE has to take a stand with regard to the academic year 2020-21 and the manner in which exams need to be conducted so also the reduction of 50% portions from exam perspective. Would like to reiterate that this petition is to support the students of Grade X who have to face the board exams in 2021 and I require the support of the parent community to a greater extent so that this petition reaches the NCERT, CBSE and MHA with maximum number of signatures enabling them to take an informed decision.