Should Class X Exams Become Optional?

On 9th September 2009 it was declared that Class 10th board exam have been made optional under the Central Board of Examination (CBSE) from 2009-10 onwards. When this historic announcement made by Union Human Resource Development Minister Shri Kapil Sibbal many students got cheered up that finally they need not to burn midnight lamp for the board examination of class 10th. But the debate over the decision is going on whether this is a right move or not on the education part.

Now onwards the class 10th result will be based on the grading system comprising of the grades A1, A, B1, B and so on. These grades will be given on the all over the year performance of the students. However, the students, who want to pursue the professional courses or want to change their school after 10th, will have to give the conventional board exam.

The reactions to this decision are of mixed nature from the students, parent and teachers. Some has welcomed this reform while other has criticized it rigorously. Shri. Kapil Sibbal said that this has been done to reduce the trauma due to the board exam on students and their parents. This is very much right. The terror of board examination in the minds of students is tremendous. It makes the lives of students in that period very miserable. Special consultation, management of stress kind of things is common during exam. This optional format will definitely relieve the student of this trauma.

This new scheme of evaluation and grading system will keep the students attentive during the entire academic year. Due to board exam students have no time to play, to carry out their hobby etc. Even if the student is bright in other field like sports, music, painting etc then also he has not time to devote it under the stressful board exam. But now the students can spare time to pursue other activities important for their growth.

But there is the other unfavorable affects of the optional exams are also there. Presently the board exams are being conducted at two levels, one at standard 10th and other at standard 12th. And after class 12th student goes for higher education where the admission too many stream are strictly based on their class 12th result. The preparation of 10th board provide them a foundation for their exams of class 12th after which they have to decide their carrier direction. Whatever flaws in their preparation can be understood and corrected for their preparation of more important exams of class tenth. But as class 10th boards made optional then the student will not have any familiarity and experience with the board, which will add to the huge stress on the students.

The purpose of education is not only to just pass the classes one after another rather to provide them the education that makes them strong enough to struggle with odds in their lives. The preparation for their exam is the way inculcating in them the courage to fight with the challenges of life. For getting good marks they definitely have to burn midnight lamp, but this teaches them the importance of hard work with which they can become successful in their life.

As per this new scheme the assessment of the students will be done during the whole academic year. The internal authority of schools will do this assessment. So the concept of neutrality that exists in the board exam pattern will be diluted. Favoritisms and biasing factor can enter into the assessment system.

As the exam has made only optional not demolished, the belief may continue to live that lets go for the board exam as this may provide experience for 12th exams. Then the concern, relieving the stress over student, for which the government has taken this step of optional exams, will not be attained.

Making the exam optional is not the remedy to get rid of stress felt during examination. The stress is the result of the increased competition and forcing by the parents to win that competition. The bright students who are under stress because of existing pattern of exam will still face the same situation because of the expectation of their parents to get the A1 grade. So, what needed is that the teachers and parents to make stress on the development of child rather than making them in expert in bookish knowledge. The curriculum should be revised to incorporate the other activities rather than just teaching the standard subjects only.

The optional board exam will enable lots of student to get rid of trauma only if the other spheres associated with it are tackled efficiently. Along with removing the restriction of necessity of board exams concentration to the achievement of following should also be paid

• Training of teachers to the new pattern of examination
• Change in attitude of parents that more than the high grade all-round development of children is necessary
• Students should take as a prospect to augment themselves with other good stuff.

The making of class 10th board exam alone is not sufficient enough. It should be supplemented with other reforms to make it effective for example curriculum revision as per need of present world, incorporation of extra activities that may interest students etc. But in any it must be ensured the standard of education is maintained instead of getting weaken.

-Deepak Gupta