Class 10 Exams Made Optional; Mixed Response from Parents and Teachers
The Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal’s long promised education reforms have finally taken off, with class 10 Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) exams now being optional from the next academic session.
“The consensus that we have reached is historic. The states said that they were ready to move ahead together,” said Sibal after meeting the states’ education ministers in New Delhi on Monday.
It will now be a stress free promotion for students through the optional exams. Students will now be graded instead of getting marks. Other boards will take their final call shortly.
State Boards will wait till the year after, study the CBSE experience and then make the changes. Sibal has also agreed in principle that he will reduce political interference in the appointment of vice-chancellors of Central universities.
Under the new system if the students choose to skip the class 10 exams, they have to take their Class 12 board exams from the same school.
Many parents and teachers have welcomed the grading system. While opposition to the change has also been seen.
