Central Board of Secondary Education decision a welcome change : Sanjay Ojha

Vinay Ojha@ EW News
New Delhi : The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will not award any division or distinction in class 10 and 12 board exams, a senior official said on Friday.

"No overall division, distinction or aggregate of marks shall be awarded. Also, if a candidate has offered more than five subjects, the decision to determine the best five subjects may be taken by the admitting institution or employer,” said CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj.

Bhardwaj said the Board does not calculate, declare or inform the percentage of marks.
"If the percentage of marks is required for higher education or in employment, the calculation if any, may be done by the admitting institution or employer," he said.

Earlier, the CBSE also did away with the practice of issuing merit lists to avoid unhealthy competition.
“The recent CBSE decision to not award divisions or distinctions comes as a welcome change and an important step towards realizing the essence of NEP 2020. This decision may be influenced by various factors, including a desire to reduce academic pressure on students, promote a more holistic approach to education, and address concerns about the impact of high-stakes exams on mental health. On the positive side, this approach encourages a focus on overall learning rather than just exam performance, fostering a more balanced educational environment, ultimately moving away from rote learning. It might also help reduce the intense competition that students often experience during board exams,” said Sanjay Ojha, Director, New star Rising Public Schools.

“ However, there could be concerns about how this decision might affect students' motivation and the recognition of their achievements so with clear guidance on weighing the performance indicators, this decision can work out in favor of every child. Also, if a candidate has appeared for more than five subjects, the decision to determine the best five subjects to be taken by the admitting institution is a welcome change,” says Sanjay Ojha.