Schooled for change

The debates can end now. It is no longer mandatory for Class X students of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to sit for the board exam starting in 2011.

In an effort to ease stress levels and take the heat off the race for dizzying percentages, the CBSE will introduce a grading system this year itself. This means a greater emphasis on internal assessment within the schools.

While the finer details of the plan are yet to be chalked out, educators say this decision is just a precursor to some major changes in the offing: conversion to the grading system for all classes, a change to the semester system, single examination for science subjects, and altered rules for college entrance, including medical and engineering courses.

“Contrary to media reports, the scrapping of the CBSE 10th standard board exams is not just related to easing study stress. There is a bigger plan to align the school syllabus with college education. Colleges, too, will have to change their systems. Education at both school and higher levels will have to be integrated. This is just the first step,” says Dr KV Kushal, regional director, DAV Institutions.

Curriculum may change
This radical step has given a big jolt to the existing system with the focus shifting from students to schools and their teaching faculties. No longer will only students be held responsible for the marks they secure. This means that schools and teachers will have to work hard to rework the existing system for assessing students, their potential and their aptitude.

“The board is moving towards a continuous evaluation system throughout secondary school,” says Avnita Bir, prinicipal, RN Poddar School, who is excited that the new system will change the goal from “marks to learning.” It may also give schools more flexibility with their curricula. For instance, Bir now plans to integrate subjects from the various streams (Science, Commerce and Arts) in Class X itself.

Traditionally, students, parents, and schools have been geared towards the 10th board exam, right from Class VIII (secondary school level). Teachers are constantly at it; parents discuss it over dinner and society at large sees it as a big event in an individual’s life.

“With the board exam out of the way, the mechanism to impart knowledge has to change. Instead of being marks-oriented, it has to become holistic,” says Bharat Malik, management trustee, RA Gurukul School. In his school, a maths online test has helped students with number phobia. This online test has multiple choice questions with interesting examples that make maths more fun, even if it was not geared towards a typical board exam.  

“The onus will now lie with schools and teachers. They will have to unlearn the old ways of teaching and develop new ones. The grading system will indicate the schools’ competence levels and challenge the effectiveness of their systems,” says Neelam Malik, principal, RA Gurukul School. “Schools will have to work harder and stay in tune with students’ needs. Individual good schools will shine.”

Quality of schools
But some parents say that the abolition of the 10th standard exam will leave them with no yardstick to measure the school’s academic quality. Today most schools are known by their results. “How does one evaluate a school where board exams are optional?” asks Pranali Mehta, mother of a Class VIII CBSE student. “How do we know if the quality of projects is a reflection of his/her education? Most importantly will getting an A in a project assure my son a college seat?”

Educationists are not surprised at these reactions. Most parents agree that project-based learning makes their children more perceptive. But they remain wary of the grade system. “I am sure 90 per cent of parents will opt for board exams. It is a matter of conditioning,” says Neelam Malik.

Internal assessments and projects are not entirely new to our schools. Many have already introduced them at both secondary and primary levels. Budget proposals, worksheets, online research, field work and several other creative ideas have been in circulation for some time now. But do they make for a good — and only — evaluation system? Some claim that the new system will replace the cumulative stress of a board exam with year-long stress brought on by continued evaluation.

“My son’s school already has project-based studies and home assignments. Add to these continuous assessments and his school life becomes extremely hectic,” says Pranali Mehta.

Focus on 12th board
But it’s not only about project work and internal assessment replacing the 10th board exam. For many, it also opens up the opportunity to concentrate on the 12th board exam and college entrance tests.

“Right now students are conditioned from Class IX to concentrate on the 10th board exams. In fact, schools start eliminating weak students from Class VIII which is stressful. Many students burn themselves out for the Class X exams and don’t do well in Class XII. But the 12th board exam in reality is the most important exam for your career,” points out Deepshika Srivastava, principal, Rajhans Vidyalaya.

Students are still not sure whether they will opt for a board exam after 10th class or an internal evaluation. “I have no idea what I will choose,” says Shilpa Karkhanis, a Class IX student from Birla Public School. Her parents are equally confused. “What if my daughter wants to join college after Class X?” asks her mother Reema.

It will be a while before these doubts are calmed. But for a start, the CBSE plans to provide schools with guidelines for project work and assessment systems. Refresher courses and orientation programmes for teachers too are being planned.

“There is bound to be confusion. Students and parents are clueless about what will happen in the coming years. But once the system is in place and schools formulate a fresh evaluation process, things will settle down,” says Dr Kushal.