New Delhi, August 31: Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal is likely to announce the new grading system for Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) class 10 after the meeting with state education ministers on Monday.
The meeting between Sibal and state ministers has been called by the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE).
At the meet, a string of education reforms, as well as the implementation of Right to Education is likely to be discussed with state governments.
The Union Government will also discuss the proposed formation of the Over Arching Regulatory Authority for higher education.
This regularity authority will subsume other bodies like All India Council For Technical Education (AICTE) and University Grants Commission (UGC).
The new funding pattern for Madarsa education system will also to be brought forward.
CBSE is expected to finalise modalities for the grading system in schools in a few days but schools are already questioning the efficacy of the new system where examinations will be replaced by grading system.
The 10th board exams may have been made optional for students but the real test in now ahead of schools. CBSE will soon replace marks with grades that will be awarded after a continuous and comprehensive evaluation over the academic year.
But the biggest worry is the implementation of the new system.
“Suppose we give an aptitude test for 100 students and out of that 80 students have the aptitude for it. I must have 80 seats. I have to then filter and again for that there needs to be a test,” says New Delhi’s Tagore International School Principal Suman Nath.
Apart from lack of infrastructure, teachers say a mere conversion of marks into grades will not be much different from the existing system and it is not just schools, but the other stakeholders – parents and children – who also seem to be resisting change.
“If one student is getting 99 per cent and one person is getting 91 per cent… they both will get the same grade,” says a student Shobit.
“People who get 90 per cent and 99 per cent are bunched together. How will the school differentiate on merit? Grades also matter but many other things like sports etc are equally important,” adds a parent Ravinder Kumar.
But despite the criticism, educationists feel, grading system is a step in the right direction.
Whether you have eaten or not, the focus is only on getting very high marks. Health is neglected, being good citizen is neglected, forget about extra curricular. With this system you will be creating a wholesome environment,” claims educationist Shayama Chona.
The modalities, currently being finalised by the CBSE, will be put to test by next year.
Only then we’ll know how grading will fare for students, teachers and parents.
–Agencies