Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi (SHP)

New Delhi, Mar 19: The Central Board of Secondary Education on Wednesday postponed the ongoing Class 10 and 12 exams till March 31 as a precaution amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"All ongoing CBSE examinations in India and abroad postponed till March 31 and will be rescheduled thereafter... after an assessment of the situation," said CBSE secretary Anurag Tripathi. "All ongoing evaluation work will be suspended during the period."

But, the ICSE board has not yet announced the postponement of exams which are likely to be held as per schedule, according to the board chief executive and secretary Gerry Arathoon.

The CBSE's announcement came after the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) issued a directive where the boards and all educational institutions in the country were to postpone exams till March 31 because of the outbreak.

The ministry had asked for the postponement of all exams, including IIT JEE. The National Institute of Open Studies (NIOS) has also postponed all exam activities. Meanwhile, the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) is likely to be scheduled in April, so that it does not clash with rescheduled board exams.

"JEE mains examination should be rescheduled and a new date will be announced on March 31 after re-assessment of the situation since the examination may require travel by examinees to different towns and the dates may clash with the rescheduled CBSE and other board exams," said the ministry.

Union HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal on his official Twitter handle stated that he has directed the CBSE and NIOS to postpone their exams keeping in view the health concerns of students.

"While maintenance of academic calendar and exam schedule is important, equally important is safety and security of students who are appearing in various examinations as also of their teachers and parents," HRD secretary Amit Khare said in official communication.

"All the ongoing examinations, including CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) board exams, be postponed till March 31 and rescheduled thereafter," he added.