CBSE’s generosity does more harm than good

Without diminishing the glory that the top scorers of the CBSE Class 12 exams have earned for themselves this year, it can be safely said that the board’s method of evaluation must come under review.

The rarefied top spot in academic excellence, at this stage of a mass-scale competition, is more crowded than ever — there are over 10,000 students with 95 per cent marks, a whopping 740 more than last year’s tally of 9,351.

The slight dip in members of the 90 per cent club this time notwithstanding, the cut-off marks in renowned colleges are likely to increase. The outcome of admission to a preferred academic institution can hinge on a fraction of a difference.

With such razor-thin differences deciding the fate of students, many candidates will rightly feel disappointment. However, that could just be the beginning of a long trail of heartbreaks. Higher education is a different ball game altogether, where academic rigour and critical reasoning will increasingly come into play. The syllabus will be vast and the appraisal process a lot more stringent than CBSE’s — it’s akin to finding oneself at sea after conquering the pond.

The CBSE schools do not in the least prepare students for such a scenario by generously doling out marks. While we rejoice the fact that girls have outperformed boys in the marks fest and other heart-warming success stories, it’s time to address this systemic problem in education that deprives students of the opportunity to push the envelope. Success on a platter doesn’t last long.