The CBSE and the CISCE have both postponed their exams in view of the novel coronavirus threat.

While the Central Board of Secondary Examinations (CBSE) issued a circular late on Wednesday, the Council of Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) issued a notification on Thursday morning.

The CBSE issued circular said: “All ongoing examinations of the board for class X and XII, being held in examination centres in India and abroad , and scheduled between Mar 19, 2020 to Mar 31, 2020 shall be rescheduled after Mar 31, 2020.”

The board said it will communicate the new exam dates to all stakeholders by March 31 after re-assessment of the situation. The CBSE has also rescheduled all evaluation work to after April 1.

The CISCE letter said: “In view of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) spreading across the country and with much uncertainty and speculation in the air, the Council in the interest of the health and well being of the students and the teaching community, has decided to postpone all ICSE and ISC Year 2020 examinations scheduled between Mar 19 and Mar 31, 2020.”

The letter said that the revised dates for the conduct of the remaining papers would be notified later. The CISCE on Wednesday had asked its evaluators to resume evaluation work at their homes.

The CBSE Class X boards have one exam left, while the Class XII exams have seven. The CISCE Class X exams have six subjects pending and Class XII has eight.

As soon as schools received the circulars, they communicated the same to students and parents through SMS alerts, school mobile apps and websites.

“We uploaded the circular on the school website, SMS services and also on the school mobile application, so sending the notifications was quick.” said Father Ajit Xess, principal of St Xavier's School, Ranchi, affiliated to the CISCE.

“I think this is something that was needed as examination is a kind of gathering and the Council thought to take the right decision. In fact parents were apprehensive as to what will happen. I think it will pacify them now,” he added.

Namita Agarwal, principal of the CBSE-affiliated Jamshedpur Public School, agreed.

“It might be annoying for students but it has been done for the common good. We have informed students through SMS alerts, Whatsapp groups and website. Hope all this ends soon,” Agarwal said.

While parents felt it was a needed safety measure in view of the pandemic, many students were disheartened that the exams will be extended.

“As a parent I feel it is safe but students aren’t happy at all,” said Pramod Kumar Mishra, father of ICSE examinee Soumya Mishra of JH Tarapore School. “Also, there is no certainty. Children usually have plans after exams and those are marred. They aren’t happy.”