There is a surge in interest among parents and students for the new evaluation system that the CBSE has introduced in Class 10
When the results were out on the last day of May this year, something that used to be predominant was simply missing on the campuses of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) schools -- suspense and allied tension.
That could, primarily, be the reason behind the sudden rush for seats in CBSE schools. Ask Manjula Raman, the principal of Army Public School, Bangalore. "Yes, there is an increase in interest and the number of enquiries that we get. Many are changing boards to take up CBSE, especially, in the past two years."
Earlier, choosing between the CBSE and ICSE used to be a task for parents. There used to be debates about that. But the introduction of the continuous comprehensive evaluation (CCE) in CBSE schools has spared the parents of that headache.
This year, the CBSE made the Std X board exam optional for students. Students who did not wish to appear for the board exam could opt for CCE conducted by the school. The CCE grades students based on their performance throughout the year and a final exam conducted by the school. No marks, just grades, so less of stress.
Across India, 67% of the 11 lakh Std X CBSE students opted not to take up the board exams. With most students opting for CCE, the passing percentage was unusually high. The schools and students had a fair idea of what grade they would get. Besides, there were no failures as the students with a grade below D (less than 33 marks in any one or all subjects) have been considered as eligible for improvement of performance. With options like these, it has become easier to pass the Std X exam under the CBSE syllabus.
"Taking up CBSE could be worthwhile for more than one reason. Not only does the grading system bring stress levels down, the educational system provides an all-round development," Raman said, citing 15 cases where students abandoned international syllabi for CBSE. "Our curriculum is new and evolving. Of course, it's challenging too when compared to the syllabi followed by other boards," she went on to add.
Malaika G Naidu, who just completed her Class 10 under the new evaluation system, agrees. "It's more challenging and interesting now. You have many activities here like conducting research, which I found fascinating. It discourages students from rote learning, since it's not about marks here. You don't memorise things for marks, you learn things with passion and interest. Learning has also become easier and effortless, thanks to the semester system that has been introduced."
As the new evaluation system becomes a talking point, parents, who are concerned about the high levels of stress among their wards due to the kind of educational system in the country, are looking at CBSE as a like-enough solution.
"I came to know about this new system of no marks through media reports that were published when the results were out. I am really tempted to change my child's school. I want the other boards too to follow the grade system and abolish marks altogether. ICSE should be the next to follow it," said Soumita Mishra, mother of two school-going children.
Mishra is not the only parent who thinks so. Babu V Naidu has admitted both his two sons in CBSE schools and calls it a wise decision.
"Introduction of the grading system is really a good thing. Besides, the curriculum is far more holistic and there is emphasis on other activities as well, besides academics," Naidu said. Another parent Anuradha Menon said: "I am mulling over getting my children admitted to schools affiliated to the CBSE. But I'll wait for a year to do that since this new system of grading has just been introduced. After a year, if I am convinced, I will change their boards."