Mixed response to Class 10 board exam revival plan

GURGAON: The Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) plan to revive Class X board exams from 2018 has evoked mixed response from all the stakeholders, including school teachers, students and parents. While some are happy, others feel the system needs to be redeveloped rather than going back to the old days.
The Class X board examination was scrapped by the CBSE, India's largest national school test-conducting body, in 2010 and replaced with the current continuous and comprehensive (CCE) evaluation that provides for tests and grading through the year as a means to reduce pressure on students.But some teachers say the reintroduction of the board exams is very much needed, given the drop in results due to no-board tests and no-detention policy.
“CCE was introduced with noble intentions of reducing pressure on students, but its erroneous implementation in some parts of the country has resulted in affecting academic standards,” said Sunita Nagpal, principal of DPS Sushant Lok.
Many students also agreed, saying handling pressure in Class XI becomes difficult after so many years of no exams. “I believe that board examinations should be compulsory as they prepare the students in Class X for the Class XII board exams,” said Keerat Singh, a ninth grader.
However, there are parents who felt that bringing exams back was not the best idea to help the already ailing education system.
“In my opinion, board exams put unnecessary stress on students. Generally board syllabus is very vast and teachers rush to complete the syllabus. Moreover in the past, many cases have come to light where students have suffered due to an examiner’s lack of apathy,” said Shalini Jetley, a parent.
However, beyond the exams and no-exams debate, many are also concerned over CCE and whether CBSE would do away with it or not. “While reintroducing the board exams is a good idea, I feel that it has to me merged with CCE,” said Aparna Erry, principal of DAV Public School, Sector 14.
She added, “While reintroducing the exam in Class X would take away the unnecessary pressure off the students in Class XI, continuous evaluation is necessary and it could be done by dividing the marks weightage between exams throughout the year.”
TOI had reported on October 21 that CBSE is likely to bring back the class X board exams after feedback from parents, schools and students favouring its reintroduction.