It was a pleasant evening on the 16th of April 2021, when I opened up WhatsApp and was treated to a bombarding of messages from the several class and school groups that I have, along with personal messages from friends and family. As I opened one of the messages that revealed a single screenshot titled – “PRESS RELEASE”.
Here it was, we had been waiting for this release for weeks and were even more on the edge since CBSE had cancelled 10th board, 2 days earlier. I had been praying that CISCE does something, just something. Cancel them, postpone them I wouldn’t mind either. It had been 14 months since tenth grade started and all of us had quite enough. I told my mother that I don’t even want a vacation, if they want to make us study, make us study something new, I was tired of turning through the same pages over and over again…
The press release had three paragraphs, three of the most confusing paragraphs I have ever read… The first paragraph stated that we were “deferred” from the exams that were originally to be held from May 4th. The second para stated that exams were postponed until CISCE takes their decision by the first week of June.
And the third para, allowed us to cancel our own exams, if we wished to, and that our marks will be based on a “fair and unbiased criterion”, a criterion that they didn’t even give us. (not yet at least).
Many might think we are impatient, even imposing, however, what would you do if you had to study for long hours every day for 14 months for an exam that may never come? This decision was democratic, yet torturing. CISCE has put everything on hold, either not realizing or ignoring the fact that their students will have to study more, at least until the criterion or their “later decision” comes out.
While the decision, is entirely in the hands of the board, it would be a blessing if they would kindly consider the mental, physical and emotional state of their students who have been cooped up learning textbooks, both eager and frightened of what is to come.
It is my gentle plea, on behalf of all tenth grade CISCE students, that CISCE takes their clear decision. Life has given us so much uncertainty in this past year, if, at least, CISCE could remove some of that uncertainty; we would be most thankful.
I believe, we deserve this much of relief. I sincerely request CISCE to hasten their decision- making process, and also consider the fact that giving exams after or during June, sound quite far-off
If CISCE could just tell us, point-blank, whether or not we are to give our exams, we would at least be able to remove the uncertainty that they have given us, from our minds and focus on what is ahead, because it is either the tenth board exams or eleventh grade. I would also request them to consider that we have eleventh grade starting in a month or two too…
This is a decision we cannot take ourselves; it does not lie in our hands… I request CISCE to take the decision as quickly as possible… And perhaps alleviate all of us from the pressure and exhaustion that we are now facing.
It is my most sincere wish… Thank you.
As always, I would like to add in a quote of mine-
“Our dreams are always certain, because our life never is…”
-Ananya Agroya
One Sundae Cup 