The examination authorities in West Bengal on Thursday, January 7, 2022, informed that the state's decision to conduct Class 10 and 12 Board exams offline remains intact as of now. Adding to this, they said that as the decided dates for the examination are three to four months away, the Covid-19 situation could possibly improve by then. Notably, the West Bengal Class 12 Board exams are lined up from April 2 to April 20, 2022, while those of Class 10 between March 7 and March 16, 2022.
Talking to PTI, the president of Council of Higher Secondary Education, Chiranjib Bhattacharya stated that it is not feasible to conduct board exams online. He emphasized that a major fraction of students hailing from rural areas would not be able to afford smartphones equipped with high speed internet. Hence, there is no plan to alter the exam mode and schedule as of now and exams will advance in the offline mode most probably. Adding to his statements, he said that the council cannot predict the turn of events but can just hope for the betterment of the situation. He also reflected on the bygone two years when the students devoid of smartphones had to struggle during exams due to digital divide.
Seconding Bhattacharya, Kalyanmoy Ganguly, President of West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, asserted that it is not a wise move to ponder over the examination mode so early. "For the time being, we are not making any arrangements for alternative modes of examination. Arrangements for conducting offline exams are on and are advancing in full swing", he said.
Notably, previous year, examinations in the state had to be scrapped as the second wave sped up its pace across the country. This forced the West Bengal Board to devise a formula to promote the students.