Can more options ensure them a better future?

Orientation towards higher studies must start early
I t is a great move and will open up opportunities for students. This move is especially important since given the current education structure, generally it is at this stage that students normally realise what subjects truly interest them and what they will be interested in the long term. Subjects like commerce can help people from other backgrounds when appearing for MBA. In fact students should be exposed to such aspects right from std IX.

We have subjects like accountancy, business and economics in std IX and it’s fascinating to see the way students grasp the concepts. In the current times, students are extremely well versed with subjects especially commerce. Students discuss topics like attrition, turnover, strategies much to the delight of their parents, they are increasingly connected to the real world. But we will require quite a few changes in the current education system. We need to start introducing and building universally relevant concepts right from std IX onwards.
Kusum Kanwar, head (school operations), KKEL

Aptitude, assessment tests help them make final choice
Giving flexibility to a student, who makes a conscious decision to change the stream is definitely a good idea. But whether the student can do well or not it depends on the student’s calibre and hard work. Sometimes students take up a stream without considering so much about the career prospects and concept of subjects. They do so because someone has influenced them or they have no option in the educational institution. But it is not easy for all to change subjects suddenly. As academics will not be easy for every student who isn’t hard working and doesn’t have the basic knowledge of commerce.

So there is need to subject a pupil to an aptitude test and a statement of purpose. This will give a clear picture to the institution whether a student can be enrolled into a new stream. Even then there is flexibility of changing streams, since it will work for the student. Looking at the present situation, commerce is a useful subject and can give more career options.   
Kishor Pillai, principal, RIMS International School and Junior College       

Proper initiation before they switch
I don’t think this will make education easier when an arts or science student suddenly takes up commerce at a higher level. For doing commerce studies, a student must have some introductory knowledge about the subject, otherwise it will put more pressure on the students. At this level, students are not so mature to handle such kind of pressure of the unknown subjects. The liberty of changing a stream is viable only when at the XII level students get some introductory knowledge of all subjects like science, arts and commerce. I feel this facility will create confusion among students. We must be careful on this count. 
Prem Menon, parent

Bridge the gap among pupils
The students will have a better perspective and options available now that they can apply for BCom irrespective of their stream after their board exams. But are the college institutes planning to have different lectures or classes for them? This is because they won’t have the same basic understanding of subjects like those who have opted for commerce right from junior college. And if they provide extra coaching to these students, will the professors be willing to spend the extra time? Also there should be a stipulated number of students in a class and they shouldn’t increase their strength. Students should be clear about their goals and should know what subjects will help them. Unnecessary change of stream may lead to lot of uncertainly with no clear knowledge.    Trisha Gupta  

Many unclear about career choices
This is a welcome move and it would benefit many students. Students just out of school are still not clear about their career choices. They often end up thinking they should have opted for other subjects or another stream altogether later. But I think there is more to this decision, for instance a student having a background in science or arts might not necessarily adjust to a commerce stream easily because of their junior college grounding in another stream. Also, students will be more indecisive and their minds will be wavering, if they know that they have many options open to them. Also, due to the current craze for MBA, many might just opt for commerce when their interest lies somewhere else.    
Narendra Purohit

Should apply to other streams too
This will widen the scope for many students. There are many who opt for another stream and then end up wasting a year. But this option should be open for students in the commerce stream as well, it has to be a two way street. Of late there is demand for management courses and marketing profiles and hence this decision is a step in the right direction. This will help students from other backgrounds to apply for management courses after graduation.
Sanchit Khandelwal, HSC student

The move will help many students
In India, many have the attitude that if a child scores more than 85% in std X, then he should take up science. If they score less they should opt for commerce or arts. This is a wrong approach. I took commerce in std XII and I took the same stream in my graduation as well. But there are many who might want to change their streams later. Therefore, it is a good move  for arts and science students. It will also help MBA aspirants as their foundation will be stronger.
Parash Mehta, FYBCom

Cynicism can lead to frustration 
This is a good move because most students realise their inclination for educational stream only later. When they don’t have such flexibility they feel they are stuck in a slot. In such a situation, they can’t do well in their stream of study. While my stream is arts, I feel that I’m more interested in economics. I find there is a lot of scope for jobs in the commerce stream. But taking science subjects at a graduation level, without studying it in class XI or XII will not be easy for any student.
Mansi Jhaveri, FYJC

Others may not find it easy to cope
It is a good move indeed because after std X one might not be sure of which stream a student wants to opt for. So even if one feels that he is off track then a student can come back on track and plan his career better. Although, it might be difficult to have similar move for science. Science is a different stream all together and one needs to have thorough knowledge about various aspects. Hence I’m not sure how well arts or commerce students will be able to adapt to science.
Ronak Shah, FYBCom