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HomeOpinionThe terror of Board exams is killing India's future and spreading unrest

The terror of Board exams is killing India’s future and spreading unrest

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An annual examination that determines a child’s continued access to education of their choice seems arbitrary at best.

In India, board exams have always been synonymous with stress — for the students, parents, teachers and, sometimes, relatives and neighbours as well. It is shocking how a child’s assessment model becomes the cause of so much pain and undue pressure. With the re-introduction of board examinations for 10th grade, there will only be an increase in the exam frenzy.

But simply discontinuing the board examinations is also a short-sighted solution to this situation. We need to assess why our society values board examination results so dearly. Assessment models in Indian education have been shaped to exclude. Question papers have been turning progressively more difficult and only those who can score highly are allowed to move to the next level of competition. High scores in the 10th grade board examinations get you entry to the much coveted science stream, high scores in the 12th grade board exams get you entry to elite colleges and from then to jobs that the society seems to place at high value. There are some questions that we, as a society, need to seriously consider if we wish to give our children a more supportive environment for growth.

Is the sole purpose of education is to select minds that can solve the most difficult numerical problems and memorise the most facts, while excluding the rest from accessing education pathways of their choice? Education has been called a truly transformative process, capable of turning children into sensible, and aware young adults capable of critically engaging with their society and environment. But if our assessment system continues to focus on exclusion instead of inclusion, we will be creating an unstable and unequal society. Children whose talents and skills are not suitable for our current system of assessment will continue to find themselves under an unnecessarily large amount of stress and pressure. These ‘excluded’ children may further suffer from self-esteem issues as they are denied access to education that should be their right.

The next question we need to ask ourselves is how relevant is an assessment system that more often than not tests a student’s ability to memorise his or her textbooks? An annual examination that determines a child’s continued access to education of their choice seems arbitrary at best. But even those students who manage to score well in this exam— how much are they really benefitting? Is our system of assessment encouraging children to think critically, understand their society better, become more responsible and sensitive citizens? Is it leading them to happier and fulfilled lives?

The terror that board examinations cause to children is truly alarming. It’s killing our future, spreading unrest all over society. Yet the solution is not as simple as doing away with the exam. We need to reshape our entire philosophy of education at large and assessment systems in particular. And we need to do it before more children succumb to the unfair board examination system.

Manish Sisodia is the Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi.

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46 COMMENTS

  1. Cannot imagine 100% in subjects which are theoretical.
    The syllabus should be revised or systembe as it is abroad ,one can take a break if taken in as trainee by a company.After some moothson completing training can startstudies as regular..

  2. Sir class 10 cbse board ke paper m hindi medium m rahkar math or science ka paper english medium me de sakte h
    Please reply me sir its question my future related please answer me ?????????????????????????????????????

  3. Dear Sir,
    The pressure to children is not only for board examinations.
    It starts from LKG. children are pushed for harasment to the so called ‘tuition masters’ by the ‘loving parents’ fond of the future of them. This should be banned and child may be subjected to formal study only after five years of age. After 8th they may be allowed to choose their own area of interest and allow to change it later, if he/she wish so. A lot of effort may needed for this in Indian conditions.
    Recently, western people found that the shade of a tree is more comfortable for students than an air conditioned room. We should study and accept philosophies of our ancestors.

  4. I would like to say that the Govt. Should not do the experiments with the education system thats it. Govt.should be enough consious for the steps it is taking after the thorough consideration n consequences of the changes .

  5. Super…..right view,this really a true protest against Board examinations.As a student I thank you for expressing our feelings and opinion through it.

  6. I am a student of class 10th. I don’t think that board exams are a babe for the students. I am really happy that boards came. I think it’s the best way to train the students to handle pressure. Of course we can’t change the education system and marking system, but we can improve it.

  7. Winner takes it all, is a bane to our education system.Appreciating the success of one or two,may become discouragement for others.
    Examinations are not needed for lower classes say up to 4th.Then internal assessment for up to secondary level.Then choice based credit system for secondary onwards. Sports,arts,music,social service and many others could be offered.

  8. Yes indeed this article is absoluely correct. A child capability cant be merely decided by marks itself as it reflects only his/her mind power. Our educational system ought to think on a broad basis. A child’s natural talent should be given sheer importance. This should be further supported by teachers so that he/she can pursue his dreams.

  9. Thought that had taken place earlier not to have board exam for 10 already ruined our children, ruined the future of India, development of successive career were destroyed by so called policy maker. What kind of talent are we wishing to have? Just remember “no pain, no gain”.

  10. Yes cbse class 12 board level question paper specially physics chemistry and math should be easy…cbse board exam is being night mare to them….too much tuff question paper make our children nervous…as last 2 yrs math & physics question paper was very tuff…so plz look aftr the above mentioned matter…

  11. Truly appreciate your viewpoint..It is imperative to develop an alternative mechanism before this system contines to run havoc through our children’s lives. CHildren with special skills are unable to pursue their passion and are neglected. Society looks so down upon the low scorers as if they are good for nothing.

  12. True. People in power, please do something. Also, review reservation policy as all things written in the article relates to general merit students more. Please take strict measures while conditions entrance exams.

  13. Wrong decisions taken by central board..unfair..full term portion from our batch..and very soon exams..and less preparation holidays.. unfair..unfair..last year that is 2017 they had half term portion and exams lasted for 1month march to April 8
    Unfair..unfair..
    CBSE u need to bow down..now..all about wrong decisions..and throwing high stress on is..we students are getting stressed more than teachers and other officials..??

  14. Sir, I completely agree with what younhave written. In fact it is not only the students who are succumbing to the ‘terror of Board exams’ as you call it but it is also the teachers. Most of what is being taught these days is from the viewpoint of the kind of questions that will appear in the Boards and not from the perspective of imparting knowledge to the children and application of the concepts learned. As a result, children too focus on studying or to be more precise ‘memorizing’ only what may come for the Boards rather than gaining a holistic understanding of the concept/topic alongwith its application. Now this approach is not just restricted to the higher classes but is evident even in the lower classes. There some schools that conduct as many as six exams in a year even in class 4 leaving the teachers and students with little time to do anything else but focus on the entire syllabus from an examination point of view. The sheer joy of learning and gaining knowledge is replaced by the terror of knowing that the next set of exams is just around the corner. This terror is compounded by the fact that your intelligence and mental capability is going to be judged based on the precious numbers you score in those exams. Well, neither the teachers nor the students can be blamed, for our education system itself sets the tone for this kind of an approach so much so that if anyone dares to deviate from it, they may in all likelihood lose out on achieving those dream scores. Even so, there is that handful that is able to rise about the rut of our education system and truly expand their minds and enjoy the joy of learning.

  15. The main problem is not board rather the assignments and the useless home works are the main cause of stress…these are the obstacles that every student faces …we will concentrate on our studies or we will do these useless assignments ..the exam is arriving still the teachers are giving hws…by blackmailing us that they will not give our internal assignment marks…..so this should be checked …

  16. Although the board exams. result in the pressure to the students, so, I suggest for periodical tests i.e. 4 qly tests to have students ability & there total marks should be the final result of 12th.
    It may reduce the tension of covering do long syllabus, comparison to qly syllabus.
    This may ease out the students.

  17. Yes sir you are right that why in india that 2 boards exams are held see in mahrashtra there is only one board exam that is 10th n then they directly entered in college but u can see that they are focusing directly to future/carrier.. …
    N we are just focused to the books of board n get depressed this is the reason childrens are not that able to do think our indias future…!
    As my point of view i m student of gujarat work hard for getting knowledge not for learning big books that will not help you..!!

  18. The condition of our education system
    Ask any PCM topper and check his answer.
    Integrate sinx sin2x sin3x and cosx cos2x cos3x.
    Each function from 0 to pi.
    To verify the answer you need to know the meaning of Integration in maths.Check the answers.
    You will hear about pcs laptops graphplotters etc. but the students and teachers are still in the centuries old system of tends to infinity or zero.
    The level of funniness.
    A student is given to measure the area of something He comes up with the answer zero. He is being taught like this. A wrong method.
    If he is taught the diagram method he will get a correct answer.
    This is the condition of xii maths teaching.

  19. This is best article from New Year i ever read. Honestly i got 80+% in my 12th board exam and still i am going to discontinue my further education after 2nf year of engineering. I didn’t believe in our education system but after reading this article i think this new e thinking of our government may bring some changes.

  20. Its an opinion only meant for consumption of people whose children lack the intellect to succeed in studies.Board exams are not only a tool for assessing if a child is suited for higher studies at a particular institution they are also a tool for assessing whether he/she has chosen subjects wisely and would be able to excel in them.Going by the viewpoint of [terror of exams]all exams are terrifying so should all exams be done away with?Are entrance exams less terrifying?This is simply a lobby which is trying to discredit the board system which is to be thanked for strong fundamentals and competitive spirit of indian students around the world.Kindly think twice before criticising a system which gives equal chance to everyone unlike entrances which need huge expense as no one can hope to crack them without expert guidance as they are not addressed in school curriculum.

  21. Don’t do nonsense. Board exams are important and necessary. Please don’t spoil future of children. If they can’t cope up now they won’t be able to handle pressure in future too.

  22. True. Even selection to premier institutes like IIM is based on 10th and 12 th marks . The fact is people undergo lot of changes in their academic performance and skills after 12 th. Besides , academics doesn’t guarantee a successful life . Systemic change are required to include students with varied interests, skills in our college education system and give them equal opportunities to excel without the baggage of their performance in 10 & 12.

  23. Wow! This is so true! As a student who had to deal with the terrifying 10th and 12th board exams, I fully agree with this.
    I really hope that the Indian education system will change for the better so that more children don’t have to go through this nightmare.

  24. My younger daughter is in 5th std studying in Maharashtra board school I m really feeling hard to express and I can’t imagine how will be her situation while preparing for board exam as she is not good in her studies I think so there must be a change in our education system so that even a weak students get chance to show her talent in studies .I think they must include oral exams marks for board exams so that there will be little less burden on students to write and score marks . Thanks

  25. The problem is not the board exam. The problem is our education system and the mindset of society.

    Though CBSE offers so many subjects other than the 5 main subjects of englush, hindi, maths, science and social studies, how many schools provide these options??? They think in economic terms – salary of teachers for these subjects and than managing so many sections and schedules and all the paperwork involved.

    Even if the schools offered those subjects, how many parents would let the child opt for the un-mainstream subjects. Parents feel that the child can manage and cope with a little more effort and are hopeful that their child will soon become a doctor or engineer.

    Our society sees these two career options as supreme.

    Going further to class 11 and 12, a child has only 4 options – medical, non medical, commerce and arts.

    What about a student who likes english, biology, psycology etc. Which stream should he opt for??

    We should have some options for interdisciplinary subject combinations which will bring fort new talent and new areas of work and research.

    Seriously, our education system needs a serious overhaul and revamp.

    Also, the society needs to change its ideology and parents should stop using thier children as trophies and achievements to display.

    Children should not be used as a means to fulfill the unfufilled aspirations of the patents.

  26. Wonderful writing and surely To be pondered by our eminent scholars.The CCE pattern was better but teachers had to be honest to judge the learning outcomes. But they just gave away marks… Without seeing into the learning that wasn’t taking place.
    Moreover students should be allowed to take lower maths or science in class 10 itself so that they are not pressurized with these subjects. CBSE SST needs to be revamped totally and the syllabus made more concise….. Question papers should be prepared following the Bloom’s Taxonomy…… Then only a child will be judged. Instead maths papers are always for the, above average students.

  27. I agree that board exams are not perfect owing to design of question papers and teaching methods prevalent in India, but “stress” should not even be a consideration as the students would have to face much difficult circumstances in life after academics and there is no escape from that.

  28. Encouraging that people in power are aware of the utter failure of the Indian education system. Waiting eagerly to see the days in which kids are accessed for their skills and talents for a stronger india!!
    May it happen soon!!

  29. It’s really unfortunate that 3 hour pen paper test decides the career & future of the children. Whole system needs overhaling

  30. Totally agreed sir, but where should the change start from? Isn’t it the higher echelons of the government? I belive the education commissions and the national curriculum framework have already acknowledged this fact. Change should also start from the society level. The yesteryear’s mindset of topping the exam should change as well which is very hard to do.

  31. If you guys can write down such a big article on ” The terror of……… unrest”, can’t you just use your brain a little bit and think that the whole point that you all are putting is pure rubbish, how come Boards Exam become a terror. If not getting adequate study break before some subjects is the reason why you all are saying this way, my question is what are the students going to do in this 51 days they have in hand for studying ha. 51 days is enough to change the World, then is it not enough to study for getting 100. Think over it guys, blaming the Board is easy, but taking so much work load and running the entire education system of a country is not. So respect them and the most important exam of a student’s life.

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