Class 10 students of the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) will not have to take any exams and will be promoted on the basis of their performance in the preBoard exams, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh announced on Friday. The state government has decided to promote all students of Classes 5 to 10 under the Punjab school education system to the next class without any examination in the light of the Covid-19 crisis, which has led to the prolonged lockdown/curfew, the Chief Minister said. Responding to questions and concerns on social media over the past few days, the Chief Minister, who spoke on Facebook Live, said for Class 11 and 12 students, the state will go by the decision of the Union Government.
This was the first in a series of programmes on Facebook in which the Chief Minister will be responding every Friday to various questions received, or issues raised, on Covid-19 and the lockdown in the state. Explaining the rationale behind relaxations given to people in the lockdown’s third phase, Amarinder said he had been concerned about the mental and psychological health of the people stuck in small houses over a prolonged period of time. The relaxations will give them an opportunity to step out, he said, but called for caution and adherence to safety protocols. The relaxations can be further extended if the situation improves, said the CM, adding that it would depend on the people and their strict adherence to social distancing and other norms.