Educational Reforms and Kapil Sibbal’s Initiatives

All News Paper has one or the other following headline on the cover page:

“No Class 10 board exams in CBSE from 2011: Sibal”

“Class X board to go from 2011”

“Class 10th board would be optional”

“There would be no Class 10 board exams for Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) affiliated schools from 2011”, announced union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal.

Sibal said, “The Class 10 board exams would be optional. Students who wish to evaluate themselves (on the board exam system) could do so on demand”.

The minister told that board exams would be held as usual for this academic year but a grading system would be introduced along with the usual marks-system.

There will be following nine grades:

• A1 (exceptional) with a grade point of 10 and a marks range of 91-100%.

• A2 (excellent) with a grade point of 9 and marks in the range of 81-90%

• B1 (very good) with grade point of 8 and a marks range of 71-80%

• B2 (good) with a grade point of 7 and marks range of 61-70%

• C1 (fair) with grade point of 6 and marks range of 51-60%

• C2 (average) with grade point of 5 and marks range of 41-50%

• D (below average) with 4 grade points and marks range of 33-40%

• E1 (needs improvement) and E2 (unsatisfactory) are the last two grades.

Grading system will be based on continuous and comprehensive evaluation (CCE) will be done in two terms (April-September, October-March). In a year, the school will conduct four formative and two summative assessments. Formative assessment will carry 40% marks and summative assessment 60% marks.

Formative assessment will evaluate and grade class work, homework, assignment and project work. Summative assessment will base on the term-end examination.

What does Educational Reform means to us?

Indian education system is famous for cramming contest and theoretical knowledge. On the other hand this same system is atleast ensuring a rigourous school life and decent enough level in Science and Maths as compared to many other countries.

Is doing away with exams any good?

Country is divided in two groups. One set of people agree with this change while another set of people do not agree with this change. To reduce the pressure from the students, a lot more need to be done than just doing away with the exam.

One set of people think…

Human nature is to make effort only under pressures/deadlines. No exams would mean no or little effort. Exams need to become more meaningful instead of making them optional.

English as a subject has been made more meaningful by CBSE in recent years however the examintaion hasn’t changed drastically and cannot because the teachers would need to change a lot.

The IIT graduates would tell you the practicality of knowledge than a graduate from a comparable institue in other countries has. This brings another aspect of Indian schools where in you take knowledge at face value.

One can see the exercises at the end of each chapter in a UK geography book for middle school. None of the exercises could be completed without original pondering and fresh research. This element has to be brought in to syllabi as well as exams and hence the need to reform teachers as well.

Finland / Norway/ Sweden and Denmark have good standards in Science and Maths and their industries prove it. This is not achieved by sending the child to school at the age of 2. It is the attitude to education and the delivery which is so different.

So let’s not do away with exams, let’s not be in a hurry to bring in grades to replace numbers but let’s debate meaningful education.

Another set of people thinks…

It’s a historic decision which will go a long way in changing the logical, conclusion and mental thinking of the Indian students. Rather than being forced to learn without making your own assessment, being forced psychologically to get good percentages for your parents. Students will be more open to why’s, how’s of physics, atoms and theories instead of merely learning them from the point of view of obtaining good marks.

Examination has been eliminated not the assessment. Pressure and deadlines can not make somebody learn. It can make someone crack competitive examinations. At larger level that formula doesnt work for all children. There can be various innovative ways in which classroom processes can be conducted. There is need for innovation, assignments, constructive learning, and creativity.

People think Mr. Sibal has made a good move at the larger level. At least teachers and parents cannot threaten their children now. As far as competition goes, one who has learnt well shall do good in life and often learning happens beyond classrooms.

Sibal was convinced people are beginning to walk with him on the path of educational reforms.

“I was here to learn from each other. I have learnt that this is the best way to move forward. You need to take your children into confidence, your parents and teachers into confidence, especially in an approach like this,” said Sibal.

Author: Mona Gupta, New Delhi