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Sibal plans to scrap 'traumatic' Class 10 Board exams

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Shishir Gupta

Posted: Jun 25, 2009 at 0901 hrs IST
Students

New Delhi In a pathbreaking step towards reforming India’s school education system, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal is considering doing away with the Class 10 Board examination, and setting up an alternative evaluation system based on percentiles, not percentages.

Sibal told The Indian Express: “The Indian education system which is marks-centered and examination-based is a source of trauma for both parents and children... knowledge, like everything else, should be user-friendly, and the acquisition of knowledge should not be a stressful exercise.”

Children, Sibal said, should not be judged by percentages with an emphasis on learning by rote, and the whole system of examinations should be looked at afresh.

“I am thinking of relooking at the necessity of having a Board examination for Class 10,” he said. “A child moves up from Class 9 to Class 10 in the same school and there is no reason for either the student or the parents to get traumatised by the 10th Board exam,” he said. As a first step, the HRD Ministry will consult state governments and state education boards, Sibal said. “I hope to move forward very soon and set up an alternative system of evaluation of students that is based on percentiles rather than percentages.”

The minister believes that it is for the students to decide which stream to follow in Class 11 rather than for the schools to force it on them. “Ultimately, it is the student’s aptitude that should decide whether he or she wants to study arts or science... not the school,” he said.

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Right step to unformise elementry education throughout country. by Kalyan Chowdhury on 25 Jun 2009

Mr. Sibal thinking is a right step to go ahead for uniforming of education of the budding youths to serve the country under one umbrella. The parents and pupils as well will be able to avoid lot of formality hazards including migration and admission difficulty in any institution.

It will reduce the excessive stress on students by m mehta on 25 Jun 2009

It will be a step in the right direction by the new HRD Minister. In reality, what relevance this 10th Board Exam serve except for draining the energy and resources of the parents and students alike?? This entire Board exam system has created an industry of phony coaching classes and has provided the schools to neglect their primary task of imparting the quest for knowledge

Of Percentages and Percentiles by DeeDee on 25 Jun 2009

Just a couple of weeks ago Obama sent a message to the Americans, "watch out the Indians are coming". If Indians are doing well it is because Indians traditionally respect learning.Yet I agree learning or higher studies is not everybodys cup of tea.Its rarely schools which force children to take up a streams...stress I think is caused by wrong choices which sometimes the students make themselves or when parents force their choices on children.Therefore I think its important to gauge the aptitude of the child by class IX through proper counselling.Most Indian schools do not have this facility which maybe what creates stress in the later years.By reducing the standards of education we will hardly be in a position to compete at an international level .

Au Revoir by Princeton Grad Student on 25 Jun 2009

Rock on Mr.Sibal. This is a clear move for the Indian System of education to be on par with the the Rest of the World(like the Americas and Europe).

No Board Exam in 10th Std. by krishna on 25 Jun 2009

It is a welcome step. Students who can mug up the answers can score heavily in 10th. If you ask a question on the subject they scored highest,other than the one available in the notes or guides, they fumble for the answer. Why not single syllabus for all the schools in India excluding language paper, thus doing away with State Board, Central Board, Metriculation, etc., streams presently available.

Ajay by Ajay on 25 Jun 2009

even i am a student and the teachers hav started pressurising us already!..............all the time v r forced to study!...........its an exellent decision!but i hope it applies for the current batch!

allright but.. by Mukesh on 25 Jun 2009

it seems a good move as the evaluation intelligence can’t be done through percentage system which is omnipresent in our education system. It is assumed that if a kid has been able to score good marks then he/she is considered an intelligent one no matter how poor he/she is in solving the basic problem of the learning. So the percentage system must be scrapped from our education system but the next questions that comes into mind is that what should be the better replacement of it? just doing away from the percentage system is not going to solve the problem as today most of the kids are very poor when it comes to fundamental even if they are scoring good percentages.. The whole education system need to be revised.

Way to Go .... by Indian on 25 Jun 2009

Excellent move Mr Sibal. This system is successfully implemented across many western countries like UK , US etc.. The objective of acquiring knowledge should be to be able to apply it to further the knowledge and not mug and throw up during few hours of exam and then forget it. This will unleash the creativity of a strong nation and help us invent new products and solutions forthe world. Way to Go.

Decision corect by Billu nauvi paas on 25 Jun 2009

Correct decision by taken Sibal kapil sahab.Now will try i to get class X degree.Jai ho

Kapil Sibal, HRD, Board examination, education by MS on 25 Jun 2009

Does the govt. propose to reduce the voting age to 14? why such populist statements?

Board exam- Burdensome exam by Gundala Ramavatharam on 25 Jun 2009

Appreciate Mr. Sibal for the reform he is thinking of. Marks are never writing on the walls!! An average student in exams can outshine a brilliant student in their adulthood. What is required is to teach them the way to understand the subjects but not mugging up as most do it for the of marks.

This is a planned strategy of developed countries to take away the competitive edge by Ramesh Nair on 25 Jun 2009

How they will know where they stand in the class

Educational Reforms by Dr. Ram Chander Sharma on 25 Jun 2009

It was long overdue sinc 1986 when new educational policy was formulated by late Sh. Rajiv Gandhi. The formative years of a child are consumed bt the stress of scoring more and more. The school wants it more for more new enteries to do the brisk educational businees, the parents want more marks to boast arround . In Jammu and Kashmir Board there is 8th class board exama. and I have seen students failling in 8 class for four times.

No Exams!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! by VG Prabhakar on 25 Jun 2009

IT IS HEIGHTS OF FOOLISHNESS TO SCRAP EXAMS. INSTEAD HE SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON HOW TO EQUIP STUDENTS TO FACE EXAMS BETTER. THERE IS SHORT CUT TO SUCCESS. HARD WORK AND PERSEVERANCE IS THE ONLY ROUTE FOR SUCCESS. HE IS PLANNING TO TAKE INDIA INTO BC ERA.MAY BE HE IS ACTING UPON PRESSURE FROM THE US!!!!!!!!AS EVERYBODY KNOWS THE PRESENT DAY INDIANS ARE HIGHLY BRILLIANT AND HARDWORKING, THE LAZY AMERICANS AND AUSSIES ARE HAVING TOUGH TIME COMPETING WITH THEM. SO, BY AVOIDING EXAMS, MR. SIBAL WANTS TO MAKE INDIANS EASY GOERS AND THUS LESS COMPETITIVE.WHOLE WORLD IS AWESTRUCK WITH THE TALENTED INDIANS WHICH PROBABLY MR. SIBAL DOES NOT LIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!GOD SAVE INDIA FROM INTERNAL ENEMIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

New Primary Education system in India by venkateswarlu on 25 Jun 2009

Education should be provided to all. All Govt. schools can't accommodate all children in India. Hence private schools are making business on primary education. With this system neither parents nor teachers are benefited. Now time has come to change the system. My suggestion is that make it mandatory to give admission to all children in Govt. schools where they are residing. Do not make compulsory to attend classes in Govt. schools. Let children join in tuitions conducted by unemployed BEd youth / Unemployed Graduates / retired teachers directly or coached by their parents at home. Conduct quarterly, half-yearly and annual exams in Govt. schools to access the skills of the students. Depending on availability of teachers and rooms in Govt. schools give contact classes to children who falls under below poverty line. Make contact classes is only an optional. In this way we can avoid private /corporate schools and encouraging unemployed Graduate/ BEd youth by giving self-employment to them.

It is not right by R Saksena on 25 Jun 2009

Class X exams must not be scrapped. Everyone should go through it. But Class XII exams must be scrapped and replaced by a SAT like exam covering the syllabus for Classes XI and XII. Everyone who wishes for a college education including in professional colleges must go thru it. There should be only one exam at the end of Class XII and not multiple exams/admission tests as at present.Class X exam will have the status of school-leaving exam which will clear the schools of non-serios students at Class XI and XII.

Exams under strain by Nikhil on 25 Jun 2009

Most bewildering thing to do.Already the standards have fallen very low.with this move it will rech its nadir.Merit has and requires certain tests at certain age.10th class is the right age for that.The move needs tobe scrapped at the beginnig itself.

Waiving 10th Exam by Kumar on 25 Jun 2009

I think Mr. Kapil Sibal wants to be another headache of Indian people like the one we had before in the Human ministry. I wonder how Congress is choosing these kinds of people to Human Resourse ministry? The idea is poor and I do not see any revolution in it. Let God help our youngsters. Yah Allah please forgive these people who wnated to become a mockery to the Indian Democratic system.

playing with time tested system by concerned indian on 25 Jun 2009

It is because of this time tested system, that Indians were able to set standard for the world in information technology and dominate it. The Western world is lagging behind India and china in educational field now. We should not copy their mistake and throw away our advantage. Let Mr Sibal start "special" schools for those few who find exams traumatic instead of lowering the standard of education.

I wish Mr. Sibal reads this - Do NOT remove 10th Board exam by Sridhar on 25 Jun 2009

Dear Mr. Sibal, Thank you for your concern for children. What is the alternate ? In this competitive world, I think there is no choice. If you want to be liberal and relieve children only of the "stress" it is a very bad move. Any move should be based on scientific and factual basis.I have lived in Canada and my son has studied for four years over there. Our (Indian) school and it's strict curriculum is indeed required if we want to remain competitive. 10th board exam is indeed required to make children get serious about studying for their career. For most boys (I think it is not the case for girls) due to their mental growth in 10th standard they do not get the required seriousness to study and are very playful. Only with the stress of 10th board can they be motivated to concentrate on studies. What is really required is this: Instead of laying stress on theory, there should be focus on 'doing' e.g. repairing cycles, motors, electronic items, hospitality, food preparation etc.

Senior Lecturar, University of East London, London by Dr Jaswinder Lota on 25 Jun 2009

This is an excellent move. Most of the developed countries are doing away with exams. Our education systems is outdated and coloniial.These reforms are absolutely required. Thank God we have got some ministers finally working for the society.I compliment Mr Sibel, just hope that he keeps up the good work to see this through and all the much required other reforms so badly needed for our education system

Percentile and Percentage by RAJAN K B on 25 Jun 2009

A populist statement. Before applying mind on a better alternative, how can one talk of scapping the existing system? Exams cannot be avoided to replace percentage by percentile. Let the minds apply, before mouthing.

sibbal will revolutionize indian worthless education system by harsh vardhane on 25 Jun 2009

i strongly agree with mr sibbal's views as our system is totally against the practice of equality.there are always differentiation between a 90% holder and 70% holder every child has got his own capibilities which are unique in his own way so why to force everyone to score in 90'swht will happen if everyone will be engineers and doctors only then the world will get deprived of best gardeners,labourers and farmers.

Good Work Mr. Sibal by Anil Dsouza on 25 Jun 2009

Thats a nice thought Mr. Sibal. i hope you go on to implement the same it will be a big help to the students and more to the parents who spend more sleepless nights than the students themselves.

WRONG MOVE by Rajesh on 25 Jun 2009

This is most definitely a wrong move! Meritocracy demands that the system filters the strong from the weak, the intelligent from the less so!I live in Germany but I have done my schooling in India. Here, in Germany, the standards of education have fallen and fallen, because of this liberal 'progressive' thinking, where the country wants to 'unburden' the children.Class X exams prepare the children for what is coming, and that is Class XII exams, the admission exams to various colleges, UPSC exams, etc.Class X exams keeps India in the running for the excellency in education in the world. Otherwise we are headed the way of those developed countries, where children cannot do even the most simple maths.Kapil Sibal is choosing the easy and the popular way, but the hard way is the right way!This is a devastating move, bound to weaken India's future.

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