CBSE’s second board exam a tougher test for Vidarbha students in scorching heat

Nagpur: As CBSE's second board examination for Class 10 students gets under way from May 15, with papers scheduled from 10.30am to 1.30pm, many are wondering how Vidarbha students will appear during peak summer phase. While these exams are optional for students, teachers and other school staff will have to report for duty regardless of the number of students registered. In May, Nagpur and other parts of Vidarbha witness temperature upwards of 45 degrees Celsius. The timing is particularly worrying as some school outside city limits witness power outages, which leave them inside classrooms without working fans. Students, who spoke to TOI on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the matter, were largely opposed to the timing. Several said extreme heat affects their ability to write properly, causes discomfort and, in some cases, has led to fainting during exams in past years. One student said conducting papers during a heatwave was unfair because it added physical stress on top of the academic pressure already associated with board examinations, particularly since the gap between the March exams and the May papers is short and disrupts study patterns and vacation schedules. Parents said the exam was manageable if schools ensured adequate facilities — uninterrupted electricity, generators or inverters as backup, sufficient drinking water, proper ventilation and trained nurses or medical support on standby. One parent took the view that students should learn to adapt to adverse conditions as part of building resilience, but maintained that schools must ensure a safe environment regardless. The CBSE second board examination is an optional facility available to Class 10 students who have passed the main examination and wish to improve their performance in up to three subjects — Science, Mathematics, Social Science and languages. Students in the compartment category and those with a third-chance compartment attempt may also appear. The exam is conducted on the same syllabus as the main examination. Students who appeared for Mathematics Standard in the main exam may switch to Mathematics Basic in the second exam, and vice-versa. If a student pays the fee but does not appear, the main examination result is treated as final.