When the Chhattisgarh government decided to introduce the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) pattern in six tribal districts and 142 non-tribal schools in the state, it was not ready for the debacle which it would see.The results for the class X and XII examinations — which have left State Education Minister Satya Narain Sharma sweating — might well be counted among the poorest results ever witnessed by any state in the country.Of a total 10,252 students appearing for the Class X examinations, only eight per cent passed the exams. Class XII saw only nine per cent students out of a total of 4,103 passing the final examinations.Says Sharma: ‘‘It’s very embarrassing for me as Education Minister. We are not happy, but it’s a fact that our students did not do well, however, there is no going back on the move,’’ and adds that the reasons which led to the poor results should be rectified.At the same time, the parents of the failed students are furious and blame the state government for jeopardising the future of their wards. The CBSE pattern was introduced in the state on the behest of the Tribal Development Department in order to upgrade the educational standard of the students. However, with the results out, an official who was earlier with the Tribal Development Department says: ‘‘It was the first year of the CBSE examinations. Our boys will gradually adjust to the new stream of education for a better education.’’However, the shift to CBSE was not followed by steps to provide proper infrastructure — books and trained teachers — for the students. Sixty per cent of the schools in the tribal areas have no buildings, teachers and teaching tools. Admits Secretary, School Education, Sunil Kujur: ‘‘It’s a fact that we were not prepared sufficiently. By the time the books came, half the session was over.’’ Not getting the books in the market, many students either left the schools or arranged photocopies of the lessons, albeit only two months before the examinations.Reports from the tribal districts, reveal that some of the schools have created a record of sorts — with zero per cent results. A shopkeeper at Kondagaon Prema questions: ‘‘How can you expect tribal students to follow CBSE instructions in 10th or 12th standard when they had a poor base in the middle classes?’’Education Minister Sharma says: ‘‘We can’t deny the facts. The damage is already done. The only thing we can do now is to provide help to the students appearing in the next session.’’ The Department has convened a meeting of education officers from all over the state on June 7 to review the results and take a decision for the next year. The Education Minister says the CBSE course would now be introduced from class-VI, instead of 10th and 12th standards.
