Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin will be convening a high-level meeting on Wednesday in Chennai with the authorities of the education department to discuss whether to conduct the board exams for the Class 12 students in light of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cancelled the board exams for CBSE Class 12 on Tuesday, the Tamil Nadu government has come under expectation over its decision. 

The Chief Minister has convened the meeting by the time of writing this content and the meeting is participated by School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, Chief Secretary Irai Anbu, Commissioner of School Education department Nandhakumar, and Director of Examinations Usharani. Several high-level authorities have also been attending the meeting to take a final call over whether to conduct the board exams for Class 12 students. 

According to reports, the Chief Minister will be taking stock of the COVID-19 situation in the state and will be reviewing the suggestions from various stakeholders concerning the Class 12 board exams. While the state government has earlier asserted that the board exams will be conducted at any cost, the reports close to the developments say that the government may consider cancelling the exams as the Central government has cancelled the CSBE board exams across the country for this year. 

The Tamil Nadu government has earlier said that it will take a final call based on the decision taken by the Center over the CBSE Class 12 board exams. Now, as the CBSE exams are suspended, the Chief Minister has convened a meeting to decide whether to conduct the board exams for the Class 12 students who are under the state board. 

The meeting has come a day after the state government has declared the students between Class 1 to Class 8 as all pass. Earlier, the government had already cancelled the board exams for Classes 9 to 11 by deferring the Class 12 board exams. It has expected that the state government may rely on cancelling the board exams or it can decide to conduct the board exams in August after the pandemic comes under control and lockdown and restrictions are eased. 

The final decision of the state government can come on Wednesday afternoon. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi has announced that the Class 12 CBSE board exams are cancelled this year. The CBSE had on April 14 announced the cancellation of class 10 exams and postponement of class 12 exams in view of the surge in the COVID-19 cases. 

The Prime Minister said, "Health and safety of our students are of utmost importance and there would be no compromise on this aspect. Anxiety among students, parents, and teachers, which must be put to an end." "Students should not be forced to appear for exams in such a stressful situation and all stakeholders need to show sensitivity for students", the Prime Minister added. 

The Prime Minister had chaired a review meeting regarding the Class XII Board exams of CBSE and the officials gave a detailed presentation on the wide and extensive consultation held so far and views received from all stakeholders, including state governments. The press release has said that various options for the conduct of CBSE examinations were discussed in the meeting and feedback obtained from the States and UTs.

The official press release has said, "It was also decided that like last year, in case some students desire to take the exams, such an option would be provided to them by CBSE, as and when the situation becomes conducive." After the meeting, Prime Minister Modi took to Twitter and wrote, "Government of India has decided to cancel the Class XII CBSE Board Exams. After extensive consultations, we have taken a decision that is student-friendly, one that safeguards the health as well as future of our youth."