Support grows for Class X exams, but CCE clings on

INDORE: Speculation that CBSE is likely to bring back the Class X board exam from 2018 has evoked mixed reactions here in Indore.
While some of the students seemed happy about the decision, others thought going back to the board exams will cause confusion among students.
"Students and teachers have finally adopted the continuous comprehensive evaluation (CCE) pattern after a lot of practise and it took time to understand and execute this.Now if the pattern is changed again it will be difficult for students and teachers to readjust," said Swati Rai, a Class X teacher of a private school.
However, many principals from the city agreed the CCE pattern is good and helps in overall development of students, but it needs reform.
Meanwhile, Class VIII students, who will likely give the compulsory board pattern exam in 2018, seem happy about the decision.
"My sister had given the board exam when she was in school and I saw her studying with a lot of seriousness. That is not seen among Class X students now. They do not take the CCE pattern seriously so the board exam will be better and competitive one. I would prefer marks rather than grades in my Class X result," said Niharika Bhatnagar, a class VIII student from the city. However average and below average students seemed a little worried about the marking system now with the board exams coming back as in the CCE pattern the students were accessed throughout the year on the basis of projects and tests and were given grades at the end of the year. Though principals and teachers agreed that the CCE pattern is designed to meet day to day scenarios of education for students, they also claimed it was not being implemented properly in most schools, thereby not benefitting students.
"The board pattern is a traditional one and is preferred by teachers. The constant evaluation throughout the year is a good system, but the bogus marking system and undeserved grades of students make them care less about taking their studies seriously," said Prakash Chaudhary, principal of Prestige Public School.
"The CCE pattern is ideal for students but it has not been implemented properly in most schools," added Chaudhary.