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Farewell to class X boards?

DNA
Thursday, June 25, 2009 21:59 IST
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Mumbai: To reform the education system in India, HRD minister Kapil Sibal recommends that class X board examination be abolished as it adds to the mental pressure on children. DNA asks experts for views.

Implement this decision soon
The idea to abolish class X board exams is brilliant but the ministry has been saying this for the last two years though it still hasn't been implemented. The government has to bring about the changes they desire rather than just put them on paper. They haven't even been able to pass the Right to Education Bill in the Parliament.

It is unanimously believed that this step would bring about a change in our education system. But to execute it successfully we need a public platform where people are made aware of these reforms and how it will impact them. The general perception among people is that the lobbies behind it aren't strong enough and the government isn't sure about their decision.
--Kavita Anand. Educationist

Kudos to Kapil Sibal
This is a wonderful move by the HRD minister Kapil Sibal. I think that the education sector requires major reformation, especially in the examination system. If they do away with class X board exams, as suggested by the Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal, it will prove to be better for the students who feel that board exams add a lot of unnecessary pressure. Moreover it will be a significant move if there will be one school examination board for which Kapil Sibal is planning to introduce a bill in the coming session, which hopefullyshould be passed. I am vouching for this move as I think that along with the children, the parents too undergo a lot of pressure during the board exams.However, we can have evaluation system based on percentile.
--Vandana Lulla . Principal, Podar Intl School

Replace marks with grades
Personally I don't agree with Mr. Kapil Sibal's suggestion that class X board exams should be abolished because these exams prepare a child for further competitive exams..A child is matured enough at this age and is ready to face these exams. And if he thinks that these exams adds pressure on children and they cant cope up with it. A child is under tremendous pressure because of the percentage system. So I think we should rather eliminate the marking or the percentage system. We should rather have a grading system throughout the country.There is a burden over a child to keep performing better and get higher marks. And we have observed that every year the cut off keeps increasing, so if we modify this system and have grades instead, this would provide a sigh-of-relief to the child and ease of some burden over his head.

I also think that the education pattern should be made centralised. By this I mean that all the states should follow the NCERT curriculum. This would result in there being a fair competition among all students.
--Arundhati Chavan. President Parent Teacher Association

"I don't agree with Kapil Sibal. The SSC exam results determine what field the students will opt for and basically know how to move ahead from there. These exams gauge the ability of the student. We can implement some changes in the educational system rather than doing away with them."
- Mithlesh Thukral

"There is a need to have one board all over India. The existing system creates discrimination among students. The current system requires reformation in the syllabus, so I completely support the move taken by the HRD minister."
- Mansi Jhaveri

"Kapil Sibal has made this comment keeping in mind the stress faced by children today regarding their board exams. But the class X exams determine thecapability of the students. There needs to be a thorough research done before implementing it all of a sudden."
- Vishal Munot

"This move will provide uniform education to all students and there will beno discrimination amongst them while taking admission. But this ruling might not necessarily workin Maharashtra as we have the system of junior colleges."
- Mayuri Talim

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Readers' comments:
I don't agree with Kapil because board exams are what decide their future and on which their eleventh admission depends. If he could reduce the syllabus, it would be better than abolishing exams.
Thursday, July 16, 2009 0:04 IST
shahil, perinthalmanna
I think Kapil Sibal's proposal to abolish the Std X board exams is a typical example of the way politicians comment, create a debate, divert attention, and forget it. In the present context, I think this is not a feasible solution. The reasons are:

1. He wants to abolish the exams because of the trauma students experience. Will this trauma be abolished from the student's mind? No. It will only be postponed. What about the trauma when a student seeks admission to any school when he can hardly stand on his feet? Will he abolish all exams? No.

2. Why should a student have trauma? It is because only if he does well he can get admission into any good profession so that later on he can do well in life. If every student is assured that his basic needs will be taken care of -- health, basic living, etc, he will not have trauma. So if he is keen, he should concentrate on promising students jobs, good health, and other basics of life. Automatically the trauma will vanish, not only from Std X but from all exams.

3. Sibal wants to have a uniform syllabus. Is this possible now? No. Take languages. Tamilnad will never agree for Hindi as a language. What about the three-language policy? What are the languages they will learn? Also, has he seen the villages where even the SSLC board exams are tough for them? Sibal comes from an affluent background. He must come down to the level of an ordinary student.

So, Sibal, please do not do any such thing. It will only postpone the inevitable and make matters worse.
Monday, June 29, 2009 11:22 IST
Dilip Gurjar, Bangalore
Mr Kapil Sibal should be given a lot of credit for being proactive and intelligent. Earlier HRD ministers were busy introducing religion- and caste-based policies. Mr Sibal has at least acknowledged the issue and has the brains to suggest remedies. The SSC exam unnecessarily pressurises students and their parents. Only people involved in tuition and coaching classes benefit from this. The exams should be abolished.
Friday, June 26, 2009 14:31 IST
Ritesh Hatui, Mumbai
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