Conduct two Class 10 Board exams in January, February instead of mid-Feb and May: feedback to CBSE draft policy

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Responding to the Central Board of Secondary Education’s proposal to hold two Board examinations for Class 10 in February and May, the Delhi Parents’ Association said that the examinations could instead be scheduled in January and February.

The CBSE had recently released a draft policy, wherein it said Class 10 students will have the flexibility to appear in two Board examinations – one scheduled from February 17 to March 6 and the other from May 5 to May 20. Providing its feedback, the association said such a move would extend the academic year and the examinations could instead be held in January and February.

“The school term lasts between April 1 to March 31. If the second phase of exam is between May 5 to May 20, whose results will be declared by June 30, this will delay admissions for the next academic term (Class 11) of the student who sits for second exam by three months,” the association stated. 

It further stated that there are 30,000 CBSE schools in India, both private and public, where many poor students study. “It is unfair that students will be charged fees for appearing in both exams,” it said, calling for the abolition of exam fees.

Aparajita Gautam, president of the association said, “If parents want their children to get admission in another school, they will have to pay quarterly fees for the months of April, May, and June, but the students would not be able to join classes till July.”

Two Board exams conducted in a space of over a month will encourage coaching-class culture as students will attend classes for the improvement examination, the feedback stated. 

“If Class 10 results are announced on June 30, the academic year will stretch to 15 months, while the subsequent Class 11 academic year will shrink to nine months. Schools will be under pressure to complete the curriculum for Class 11 in seven months,” Ms. Gautam said. 

The feedback said when students transition from Class 10 to 11, the curriculum becomes more complex, and there will be increased pressure on students to study through vacations. 

The association also pointed out statistics suggesting that 6.2 lakh students drop out between Classes 10 and 12. “Also, the system should work to abolish coaching-class culture and reduce curriculum load,” it said.