I hope that many of you are aware of the fact that the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) had made the Tenth Standard Board Exams optional. It certainly is a relief to many parents, but there is a huge sect of people, who wish that the Board Exams be conducted. (their reasons are many).
But this is the truth now – Optional Board Exams. So, how is it made optional ??? Optional to whom ???
The CBSE explains it as follows :
* Students wishing to continue the XI and XII standards in the same school, need not write the Board Exams. The School based Final Exams conducted, will be treated as the deciding criteria for admission into the XI class. Further, there is also a note that says students of the same school cannot be denied admission into XI. So, looking at this option, it certainly is a blessing that the Board Exams have been done with, finally – at least, the pressure levels have been reduced on the students.
** Those students who wish to shift to a different Board – the State Board, only need to write the Board Exams. Now, that looks so simple, right.
Read this article, from The Hindu, before proceeding further with my post. [Article Link]
Here’s only one major confusion for me :
However, the final mark sheets given by the Board to students will not indicate which of the SA2 examinations that student took, according to C. Satish, Senior Principal, R.M.K. Group of Schools, who participated in the meeting with the chairman.
Now, if the final mark sheet is not going to indicate whether the student took a Board Exam or the School based SA-2, then what difference it makes if the student took the SA-2 exam and decides to shift out of the school ??? I feel that they should have different report cards for students who wish to leave school or at least there should be a mention that the students have attempted the Board Exam.
This X standard, being the first batch is sure to face a lot of difficulties in adjusting to this new mode of evaluation, called the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE).
So many schools have started implementing the CCE starting from their Kinder Garden classes, which is very good, because the students are moulded to this new system from the time they start school and parents too get accustomed to this system from the beginning.
This system reiterates the fact that the student cannot be evaluated using one examination over the end of the year and that his overall performance in various areas, throughout the year, need to be monitored. And that’s very good. This system also helps in identifying areas of interest and performance, other than academics.
The continuous assignments and projects given every week called the Formative Assessments (FA), are to ascertain that the knowledge from the books has been employed in different situations and the concept understood better. Students are made to work in groups to do this Assessment, which makes them a team player too. Recognizing leadership qualities, happens naturally in a team.
So, as parents, let us not crib about these FAs, which does take up a considerable time in the students after-school time….but with better planning, it can be accomplished quite easily. I am not the kind of person, who says that these FAs are more important than play time….Naah, never. Going out with friends, an evening match with friends, a simple walk around, a chit-chat session – anything to do with friends is a must to lighten the heart and relax the mind. My only point is, a planned approach to these FAs, don’t look as scary as they seem to be, for many.
Now, there are two Summative Assessments (SA) in a year – like two semesters and the portions are not carry forwarded to another semester – which is a big relief to many. So, the Final Examinations (SA2), will not be on the whole book (as we used to have, when I did my Boards), but only on half the portions, which was covered in that Semester. This is another advantage of this system.
I’ve to admit at this point, that the load on the teachers have doubled or tripled with this new method of evaluation, as they have records to monitor each and every thing associated with every single student. Its high time, the parents understood this and be very supportive of this system and the teachers, who are working doubly harder, now.
Any new system needs time for people to get adjusted with and this CCE is no exception. I know many a parents, who just cannot or won’t understand this and are blindly supporting the Board Exams. Lets understand at this point, that the Board Exams are no good, if the students are dying of that pressure.
One more thing, which needs to be appreciated, is the Mark Sheet will have only the grades obtained by the students and not the marks in two decimal places. Thats wonderful news !!! It might sound so dis-interesting to parents, who are after marks. But slowly and surely, this will change the mentality of parents to reduce the pressure on students. When the pressure is less, the students learn better, in a relaxed surrounding. Knowledge gained is certainly in a better ratio.
I am all for this CCE, which is sure to change the way children study and will certainly bring down the high-pressure study years.
Lets build knowledge – Marks don’t matter !!!
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Read through the CBSE’s CCE here.
UmaS Reflections 