On Wednesday, District Education Officer Harbir Singh Anand issued a new order stating that students with a compartment will be given two options either to join class IX or class XI online classes as failed students or to join the next class to which they would be promoted after clearing the compartment.

However, if they choose the second option, they will be asked to reappear for the compartment exam as soon as the schools re-open.

If they fail to clear their compartment, they will have to go back to Class IX or Class XI, respectively.

The order reads as follows: 'aIt has been decided by the Department that students of the Classes IX and XI will be given the option either to attend the earlier Classes IX and XI as a failed candidate or to attend the next Class X and Class XII on-line, subject to the condition that the reappearing examination is held as soon as the schools are allowed to open and if they fail to do so.

The letter in this regard was sent to the school heads and directors with instructions that, "The decision of the department may be notified to students/parents by e-mail, WhatsApp, and other means of communication as deemed appropriate."

Teachers said that it was a good decision of the education department that was also in line with the previous CBSE order, which asked States to conduct compartmental exams using alternative methods, such as online tests.

CBSE recently stated that "Schools may conduct online/offline/innovative tests and may decide to encourage students on the basis of the test."

On 14 April, the UT Department of Education decided to give a total of 30 grace marks to students of classes IX and XI and not to fail any student this year.

Approximately 4,550 students of classes XI and XI of government schools, affiliated with the CBSE, were placed under compartment in Chandigarh after they could not pass despite 30 grace marks.

The compartment examinations were due to begin on May 15, 2020, but were later postponed to further orders.

However, due to the Pandemic, the schools remained closed, which is why the compartment exams have yet to be carried out.