The Oppostion BJP joined parents of Class 10 and Class 12 students to demand on Wednesday that the Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC)’s matric and intermediate exams be cancelled on the lines of the CBSE and CISCE that called off the exams citing the onging Covid-19 pandemic.

President of Jharkhand Parents Association Ajay Rai hailed the CBSE decision. “The state must also cancel its board exams without any further delay as lakhs of students are battling with confusion and anxiety. Taking a cue from other states, Jharkhand government must also follow suit in the interest of students,” he said.

Kailash Yadav, president of Abhibhavak Sangh Jharkhand, issued a similar demand. "However, there should be defined parameters of marking and evaluation of students," he said.

Over seven lakh students are due to appear in JAC’s matric and intermediate exams that were originally scheduled to take place from May 4 at over 2,000 centres. However, due to the outbreak of the second wave of Covid-19 in April, JAC postponed the exams till further orders, stating that it would take a call on June 1.

JAC officials, however, said a meeting with the state education department was yet to happen. “Any decision can be taken after thorough deliberations with the state government. A meeting in this regard is still to take place,” said JAC chairperson Arvind Prasad Singh.

Sources in the state education department maintained they were waiting for clarity on the CBSE’s marking and promotion pattern. “We are keeping a tab on the situation. We are exploring ways of evaluation. In case of cancellation of exams, we should have a clear policy on the nature of marking and promotion,” said an official unwilling to be named.

The Opposition BJP also demanded cancellation of the exams. State BJP president Deepak Prakash said, "We demand that the Soren government act promptly to announce cancellation of the exams as both students and parents are apprehensive of the Covid-19 situation."

Following the announcements of the CBSE and CISCE , many states such like Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have called off their state board examinations citing safety of students.