Mumbai: In a major move to prevent COVID-19 spike, Maharashtra government on Wednesday declares that students in Class 9 and Class 11 around the state will be declared 'passed' without appearing for examination.
Maharashtra Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad on her Twitter handle wrote, "Announcement: In the wake of the current #Covid 19 situation, all state board students of class 9th & 11th will be promoted to the next class without any examinations."
On Tuesday, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Chief, Raj Thackeray during the medie briefing demanded that Class 10 and Class 12 students who are appearing for board examination should be promoted without exams “just like other students” amid surge in COVID cases. He said, "We have no clue about the mental trauma these children are facing during this COVID. Just like other students, class 10 and 122 students should also be promoted."
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led government in Maharashtra had earlier stated that all students from Class 1-8 will be promoted without exams as COVID-19 situation worsened.
Many parents welcomed the decision quoting that situation is not good in the state to send their kids for exams. Shishir Pawar, parent of Class 9 student, said, "Its a good decision made by the government. We were worried that how we will send our child to appear the exams. We never want to take any risk and thus thanks the government for the move."
Maharashtra has hit badly by the novel coronavirus. The state is witnessing over 40,000 cases from past four days. The rising cases has promptied the state government to enforce night curfew and other preventive and precautionary measures to restrict the further spread.
Meanwhile, Class 10 and Class 12 Board Exams 2021 will be held offline.
