Class X examination: many hail Sibal’s plan,but doubts persist

However,educationists have supported Sibal’s suggestion to make the Class X exams optional. “What the minister is trying to address is very correct as the Class X exam has become redundant in these times,” said Dr Ramesh Panse,a senior educationist in the city.

“The Class X exam was important 50 years ago,as it used to be a qualification for some kind of respectable jobs. Today,that tag has definitely gone. There is no connection between the Class X marks and future life,and if it is so,it is better to do away with it,” Panse said. “The minister has kept the exams optional,however I feel the exam should be totally scrapped.”

Panse said examination could not be a criterion for assessing students. “I am totally against assessing students on the basis of examinations. The exams are looked at as a final aim,which is wrong. The students should get a chance to improve on the skills they don’t have.” He also agreed with the minister that students go through trauma during the whole year of Class X. “Not only students,but parents also get tense. If you can mug up things,you will get marks. If you get marks,you are through with the exams. This vicious circle should be broken at some point and I think the ministry has taken a very good step.”

Vasant Kalpande,former chairman of Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE),however,raised some practical difficulties in implementing the idea. “In Maharashtra,the streams are decided after Class X. So I think many students would like to appear for the Class X exams to get a stream of his/her choice.”

He also pointed out that the capacity of junior colleges attached to high schools was less compared to the capacity of junior colleges attached to senior colleges. “The general trend is that students prefer junior colleges attached to senior colleges. That means these students will have to opt for the Class X exams.”

“Moreover,Class X exams are considered as one of the benchmarks to judge the abilities of students. The students appear for scholarship exams in Classes IV and VII just to judge this. Likewise,the Class X exams are also important,” Kalpande said.

On the grade system,he said the government will have to decide on the norms. “Ultimately,if the admissions are based on grades,a comparison is bound to take place.”

“The HRD Ministry also favoured a single central board for all schools,scrapping the state boards. In that case,deciding the curriculum of subjects like history and languages will be critical,” Kalpande said. “The priorities of each state can differ. The central board will have to carefully draft the syllabus.”

He,however,agreed that students face immense stress throughout the year in Class X. “It can be addressed through counselling by experts. The roles of school,parents and NGOs are important in this.”