Farewell to class X boards?

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 hopefully  should 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 the  capability 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 be  no discrimination amongst them while taking admission. But this ruling might not necessarily work  in Maharashtra as we have the system of junior colleges."
- Mayuri Talim