Everyone’s a winner for CBSE

Board examination results are usually accompanied by anxiety among students and parents. However, this was not the case on Tuesday when the CBSE results for Std X were declared. The reason? For the first time, the CBSE board had made the Std X board exam optional for students. Students who did not wish to appear for the board exam could opt for the Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) by the school. The CCE grades students on their performance throughout the year and a final exam conducted by the school.

“In Maharashtra, 15,948 students registered to appear for the board exams, while 5,063 opted for CCE. Across India, 67% of the 11 lakh Std X CBSE students opted not to take the board exams,” said CBSE chairman Vineet Joshi. 

With most students opting for CCE, the passing percentage has been unusually high (see box). Also, the board announced the results only in terms of Grade Point and Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA). Therefore, most students knew their grades beforehand.

“I never thought I would be this calm. I slept peacefully at night since I knew I had done well consistently throughout the year. There was no chance of me failing the exam,” said Anjali Dixit of the Kendriya Vidyalaya who appeared for the CBSE board exam this year. Added Sunita George, vice-principal of RN School in Santa Cruz: “The schools and the students had a fair idea of the grades. There are no failures as students with a grade below D (less than 33 marks in any one or all subjects) have been considered as Eligible for Improvement of Performance. With options like these, it has become easier to pass the CBSE Std X exam.”

School principals are glad at the lack of tension among students. “Though there was no excitement among students about the results, it was good. At least we didn’t have to see tense faces,” said Deepshikha Srivastav, principal of Andheri’s Rajhans Vidyalaya. “Every year, as the results draw closer, anxious parents keep calling the school asking for result dates. This year, however, everyone was relatively calm. The students were relaxed as nobody knew who the toppers were. There was no fanfare surrounding any student. Unlike all previous years, parents hardly showed up this time,” said Gita Balgangardhan, principal, Kendriya Vidyala No 3 in Colaba.

Ten on ten
Maximum number of city students secured above 90%, which means 10 CGPA

48 students from Kendriya Vidyalaya scored above 90%

44 students from RN Podar, Santa Cruz, secured 10 CGPA

23 students from Rajhans Vidyalaya, Andheri, bagged the highest marks

Telling figures
1,36,722 - Students registered from Chennai region (it includes Maharashtra)

89,543 - Appeared for CBSE Std X board exam

47,269 — Appeared through schools

1,257 - Gave exam as private candidates