Boards exams twice a year, best score to be retained: Education Minister
The Ministry of Education has announced a major reform in the board examinations for classes 10 and 12, as part of the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. According to the new curriculum framework (NCF) prepared by the ministry, the board exams will be conducted twice a year and students will get an option to retain their best score. The aim is to make the exams "easier" rather than "high stakes", and to assess the understanding and achievement of competencies rather than months of coaching and memorisation.
What are the benefits of this reform?
The reform is expected to bring several benefits for the students, such as:
- Reducing the pressure and anxiety associated with board exams, as students will have more chances to perform well and improve their scores².
- Enabling flexibility and choice for students, as they can appear for a board exam in subjects they have completed and feel ready for. They can also choose from a variety of courses across streams, without being restricted to Arts, Science or Commerce.
- Enhancing the quality and relevance of education, as the board exams will focus on testing the application of knowledge and skills rather than rote learning. The new curriculum will also integrate curricular and extra-curricular activities, and vocational and academic streams.
How will this reform be implemented?
The Ministry of Education has stated that the new curriculum framework (NCF) as per NEP 2020 is ready and textbooks for the same will be developed for the 2024 academic session. The NCF document has been prepared by a national steering committee, headed by former ISRO chief K Kasturirangan. The committee has consulted various stakeholders, including state governments, boards, teachers, parents and students, to prepare the NCF.
The ministry has also asked the boards to develop capacities to be able to conduct "on-demand" examinations in due course of time. This will enable the move towards a system where students can test in a subject as soon as they have completed it, which would further reduce the content load being tested in any one examination. The ministry has also noted that in the long term, all boards should change to semester or term-based systems.
What are the challenges and concerns?
While the reform is welcomed by many experts and educators as a progressive and student-friendly move, there are also some challenges and concerns that need to be addressed, such as:
- Ensuring the availability and accessibility of infrastructure and resources for conducting multiple exams in a year, especially in rural and remote areas.
- Maintaining the quality and standardisation of exams across different boards, regions and languages.
- Providing adequate guidance and counselling for students and parents to make informed choices about their subjects and streams.
- Aligning the admission processes of higher education institutions with the new exam system.
Conclusion
The reform in board exams is a significant step towards transforming the Indian education system as envisioned by NEP 2020. It aims to make the exams more learner-centric, competency-based and flexible.
Source:
(1) Boards exams twice a year, best score to be retained: Education .... https://indianexpress.com/article/education/cbse-boards-exams-to-be-conducted-twice-a-year-minister-of-education-8905336/.
(2) Board Exams Twice A Year, Best Scores To Be Retained, Check Details Here. https://www.jagranjosh.com/news/board-exams-twice-a-year-best-scores-to-be-retained-check-details-here-169942.
(3) National Curriculum Framework proposes Board exams twice a year. https://www.thehindu.com/education/schools/board-exams-twice-a-year-class-11-12-students-to-study-2-languages-moes-new-curriculum-framework/article67226492.ece.
(4) Board exams to be conducted twice a year, students can retain best .... https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/board-exams-to-be-conducted-twice-a-year-students-can-retain-best-score-education-ministry-537642.
FAQ's
Will board exams be held twice a year?
On August 23, the Ministry of Education launched the new curriculum framework for school education in sync with the National Education Policy (NEP). According to the new curriculum, board exams now will be held twice a year.
What is best of 5 rule in CBSE 2023?
The decision has been taken by CBSE to bridge the gap between mainstream and skill subjects. The CBSE has mandated that the marks secured in a particular skill subject can be included in their best of five marks for classes IX and X if the students are not able to secure better marks in mainstream subjects.
Is 93 a good percentage?
Your percentage is good.
How many students get 95 percent in 10th board exam?
In Class 10, 1,95,799 (1.95 lakh) candidates have scored above 90 per cent marks while 44,297 have scored above 95 per cent.
