Future of students with plans to study abroad in jeopardy

Residents say number of enrolments of Indian students in foreign universities/colleges may fall significantly

Right decision in view of Covid

In the alarming situation created by the deadly pandemic, cancellation of Class XII exams is the best course of action. Under the given circumstances, government can’t put to risk the lives of lakhs of students. We should understand that the pandemic has forced many changes in our routine life. This is a part of it. At the moment, two factors weigh heavily on the government, one is lives of the students and other is their career. The government is also concerned that many schools may inflate the internal assessment of their favourite students and to solve this problem the CBSE had formed a panel of 13 members to suggest alternative assessment methods within 10 days. Another problem that arose due to this decision is that those students who had not performed well in the past may lose the chance to improve their marks. The percentage of such students would be much less, but even then they would get a chance to appear for exam as and when the situation improves. The government is time-bound to declare the results by July end or in the beginning of August, hence there won’t be any problem for admission to foreign universities. Under the given circumstances when flights are banned, chances of students going abroad in near future are less. Moreover, to get admission in foreign universities clearing entrance exams is mandatory. So, keeping in view the grave situation, the government has taken a wise decision.

Naresh Johar

QUESTION

Even in the third phase of the inoculation drive, we are still running short of jabs for the 18+ category. Do you think the government needs to go a long way in strategising a way out so that it can be well-prepared to handle such a situation in future?
Suggestions in not more than 200 words can be sent to [email protected] by Thursday (June 17).

Won’t impact their plans much

Cancellation of CBSE/ICSE examinations has put those students in a dilemma who aspire to study in foreign universities. They are in a quandary about how to plan their future. However, keeping the concerns of the students in view, the examination boards have given assurance to chalk out a method of evaluation of students to prepare results and declare them on time, so that they do not face any problem in getting admission in the institutes of higher studies. Many universities abroad have suspended physical lectures or limited the number of students in classes and have switched over to virtual classes. Still, some universities intend to start classes after going through quarantine period and following pandemic protocols. Many universities are also giving enough time to students to decide on the option of attending classes online in the beginning and later switch to physical classes on the campus. The decision to assess students based on criteria to be prepared by experts and declare results within stipulated time augurs well for them. Sportingly, many students are taking pandemic as an opportunity to study abroad as many universities have reduced their tuition fees in response to the prevailing pandemic. The students also need not worry about the impact of cancellation of their examinations as these will minimally impact their future academic plans as all examination conducting bodies such as GMAT, SAT and CAT are switching over to virtual exams. Deferring admission by a year can be another option for those who want to attend physical classes on university campuses. Nevertheless, travel restrictions due to pandemic put a major hurdle in the future plans of students aspiring to study in foreign universities.

Anil Khanna

College admissions will be affected

Cancellation of Class XII exams might lead to a compromised academic future for meritorious students. As the nation is moving towards a new era of e-learning, web-learning, online testing and interviews and home assignments, boards could have some of the prominent alternatives that could be considered to assess the ability of students. It will impact the future of students as they were not being able to concentrate on competitive exams such as NEET, JEE, CET. It will also lead do injustice to students in a way that some colleges are planning not to conduct entrance tests and merely rely on marks so it seems to be an unfair practice particularly to those who received coaching and were hoping for a good percentage. It will also impact the future of students who had plans to pursue higher studies in foreign nations. There is also a proposal under consideration to allow students to take offline exams at a later date if they are not satisfied with the score given by the school now, but this decision has left a few students worried since most colleges and foreign universities will start the admission process in a few weeks and an exam score that comes several months later will have no value.

Ankur Gupta

Students with foreign plans baffled

The move has drawn concocted responses. Many students who are wishing to pursue higher studies abroad are baffled. Yes, the decision will definitely impact the future of students who were wishing to enrol themselves in foreign universities. Exams are held to look into our mistakes and probe our capability in academic. Class XII is significant in a student’s life as it is the base of our future. Enrolling in foreign universities is not a piece of cake. It takes a lot of procedures, amendments and other formalities. I too am a Class X student and don’t want that my exams be cancelled on these lines. The education sector has suffered the most during these times. Teachers, parents and students are already facing hardships and their life has also become complicated.If we stand together we can win against the pandemic and help the education sector.

Izleen

Move reasonable owing to pandemic

Cancellation of exams has evoked mixed reaction. Truly speaking, the board was left with nothing but Hobson’s choice and in view of the pandemic it took a reasonable and plausible decision for the well-being of students. However, students and their competencies are assessed based on exams so as to provide a direction to their future endeavours. So, the cancellation has not gone down well with students aspiring to seek admission in foreign universities. Having set their eyes on January 2022 session, they are not sure if foreign universities will admit them without proper exams. It is likely to impact the future of those students who wanted to enrol themselves in foreign universities. International universities have their own admission process according to which Class XII marks are often taken into consideration. The UK and the US had regular schools, thus students fear that these countries may not consider their admission as Class XII exams have not been conducted here. This has left them at wit’s end. There is ambiguity about what rules Canada would frame for Indian students after the cancellation of Class XII board exams. Hence, the plans of students seeking admission abroad are likely to go haywire. In the hindsight, cancellation of exams is not a permanent solution in eventualities like the pandemic. Exams are impersonal and appear to be a reliable and accurate method of assessing students’ ability, skills, talents and knowledge. So, the need of the hour is to replace exams by one which takes greater cognisance of the originality and individuality, encouraging students to find their own intellectual paths.

Tarsem S Bumrah

Decision credible amid pandemic

The decision is pretty credible. The unpredictability of exams was a mental burden for every grade 12 student. One day, ‘sources’ used to say that the exams would be conducted while the other day denied. Now that the government has cancelled the exams, we students are relieved from this stress. The decision has cleared this confusion, which had students scratching their heads for months. Like many other students, my whole online academic year had its ups and downs, but I figured that I could still finish off my grade 12 by doing majestically in boards but alas! Fate had its own game, as happy as I was when the CBSE took the final decision of cancelling exams, later when I profoundly thought about it, I recognised how it could affect my grades for my conditional acceptances, not to mention how it would affect my scholarships as well, since my grade 12 finals were going to be my final ticket into these universities. My future was in the hands of my present before but now it’s in the hands of my past, seems a bit unfair isn’t it? Just like me, I’m sure there must be other students as well who must be going through the same. Covid has not only taken lives but also ruined lives. The decision taken by the government in regard to our health is understandable; since there wasn’t any ‘right decision’ which could have been taken one or the other would have had its own consequences. Talking about the students who did not apply for early acceptances and were waiting to be done with the exams, they find themselves in a nasty situation as well confused about when they will receive their results so they can further apply for universities.

Gurjas Singh

Relaxations expected from foreign varsities

Class XII board exams have been rightly cancelled in the wake of the Covid pandemic. The PM said the decision had been taken in the interest of students. Admissions to foreign universities have become a matter for concern. With this, students can also expect a tougher competition this year to study abroad. Indian students wishing to enrol in universities abroad, should expect, the number to rise this year with students who had deferred their 2020 admissions or were waiting for relaxations in restrictions around the world. To prevent wastage of time, parents should also be prepared with finances, accommodation plans, visa preparation etc. Due to closure of many visa application centres owing to the pandemic, obtaining an international study visa has also become a challenge. Universities abroad have their own admission process and guidelines vary from university to university. Students who have taken admission in foreign university should reach out to respective university and discuss the predicament and situation. With unforeseen circumstances, a relaxation is expected to be offered. Many universities had relaxed requirements in 2020, and no doubt they shall do it this year too especially when bright minds from India make for diverse campuses.

Dr KS Manchanda

Students undeterred to give up their dreams

The whole world is fighting with the pandemic and global colleges and universities are expected to provide students with certain relaxations. The second Covid wave has put Indian aspirants in a muddle. The cancellation of exams has further caused a ripple effect for students dreaming to study abroad. Despite all uncertainties, students seem to be undeterred in giving up their foreign dream. Over 91 per cent of Indian students expressed strong interest in studying abroad, as per a study. Many universities across the world have reported a higher number of enrolments despite the current pandemic situation. Universities are also offering scholarships and providing students with all necessary support to attract them from around the world. Countries have also announced new guidelines for students applying for work visa on the basis of online classes. It depends upon a university and their guidelines and how they are conducting their enrolments.

Vanshika

Boards shouldn’t have cancelled exams

With the cancellation of Class XII exams where most of the students and parents are happy, hard working students and their parents are surprised and disappointed with the decision. The results of Class XII exams play an important role in getting admission to various courses, colleges and getting higher education abroad. Scholars, educated people and parents are of the view that the boards should not have canceled the examinations. If offline examination was not possible, online examination could be conducted and objective type pattern could be followed, questions could be asked more to prevent copying, students could have been instructed to keep the camera on while attempting the exam. In addition, most people are of the opinion that if ICSE and CBSE had to cancel Class XII exam, they should have canceled it along with the Class X exams, so that by now the result of Class XII could be readied. As the basis of admission to various courses, college admissions and foreign studies is Class XII marks only. Due to this late decision, consequently, results are delayed, next academic year too will be affected.

Sucha Sagar

Exam cancellation right & just

Believe it or not, Covid has, even if by default, compelled us to examine our archaic system of education, our primitive methods of teaching and unreliable methods of testing, particularly our 101 point scale and thrown us into the middle of the problem we had been somehow shelving for ‘later on’. Now it is immediacy. After the right and just cancellation of the Senior Secondary Part II examination, CBSE think tanks are busy to fish out some valid formula for converting scores in lower examinations, practicals and internal assessment awards supported by the average scores of the last two or three years, to provide a credible mark of the attainments of the candidate and his or her eligibility for higher education courses whether commerce, computer, science, arts or agriculture. It is good tidings. Punjab has stolen headlines in school education though most of the parameters for which it has shown ‘improvement’ are concerned with administration. The number of unfilled posts of teachers is no one’s baby. The real content of education, after the schools reopen is a challenge. The new Class XI and Class XII students will come unexposed to real time classroom environment. I think the CBSE might choose to slip back into the old system of evaluation. It is a tricky problem. But by and large, the student population is happy over the cancellation of examination.

Prof Mohan Singh

Foreign institutes might change rules

I think students already knew that there was a chance of the board exams being cancelled and they had prepared themselves for it accordingly. Grading of students will now be done on the basis of a specific mechanism which will be disclosed by the government anytime soon. Both parents and students must understand that health is a bigger priority than holding exams right now and as the second wave of the pandemic has started receding; there are fears of the third wave which is predicted to be affecting children more. Moreover, foreign universities too are aware of the devastating impact of the pandemic on mental health of students. So, they might change their evaluation criteria.

Jatinderpal Singh Batth

Best possible way out

The decision of cancellation of Class XII exams is appropriate in view of the ongoing pandemic. The disease is feared to affect children more in the coming days thus appropriate steps needed to be taken. No doubt the decision will cause turbulence in the lives of students, who were in the final stage of school-level education, but owing to the pandemic their lives could not be risked and thus the move came. The issue is sensitive as there was no perfect solution available to tackle the problem and the government had to go with the best possible way out to deal with it.

BM Singh

Varsities have relaxed admission norms

The problem is global and all universities have adapted themselves by setting new admission requirements. The CBSE and ICSE boards are equipped to assess a student and award the results, based on school assessment, a student’s academic performance and capabilities. Foreign universities have also relaxed their entry grade boundaries, keeping this form of assessment in mind. Students, who want to apply abroad, should not be baffled. There is enough support available, ensuring that their future is not adversely impacted.

Indu Aurora

Getting int’l visa more challenging now

As per the Ministry of External Affairs in 2020, more than 11 lakh Indian students were studying abroad. After the announcement of cancellation of Class XII exams, admissions to foreign universities have become a matter for concern for aspiring students and their parents. Cancellation of exams means that the board results will be delayed and expected to be out by August end, which will leave very little time for students for other activities such as writing college applications, taking standardised tests or other profile-building activities. Further, there will be a shorter time window between admission confirmation and course commencement in certain countries where board results are mandatory. The development will also result in difficulty for students to have their required admission documents in place to be submitted in time along with the applications. Indian students are an important community to members of the global college campuses, support can be expected from universities in these countries in the form of relaxed requirements and timelines. In a pre-pandemic era, there used to be a longer period for parents to help their kids through their move to a foreign country. But that will not be the case this year.

Pankaj Kumar Sharma

US aspirants may not be affected much

• While the board has cancelled the Class exams, they are yet to announce how they will be calculating student's final scores.
• It is believed that the board is in the process of planning an alternate model of assessment based on internal tests conducted by schools.
• Indian students are already late in submitting their applications. This has left students applying for undergraduate programs abroad worried and confused.
• The US aspirants may be impacted less since most US universities have a fairly holistic approach in admissions with a relatively lower weight for board results.
• However, students applying to the UK and Canada are in a bind waiting for the board's decision. Colleges in the UK and Canada require students to give their Class XII scores and any related documents by July or August.
• Overall, universities abroad value India as an important market and have always decided in favour of the students. These universities will definitely support Indian students after taking into consideration the current situation. Amaan Bubbar

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