The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had decided five years ago to do away with Class X boards. This week it has announced that it has abandoned the policy that offer students a choice to opt for the board-conducted finals or let the institutions assess their performance.The board examination in the CBSE schools was scrapped by the UPA. In its place was introduced continuous and comprehensive evaluation (CCE) through year-round tests and a grading system. For students, Class X boards mark the end of an eventful chapter of their lives. So the decision was highly significant. But now the CBSE has reversed its earlier decision. What prompted it to do so merits serious consideration.Most other state boards still have a 10+2 formula. It is necessary to have a uniform method of evaluation for all boards.There is a no- detention policy till Class VIII. Class XII is the first big test and all this has given rise to a lot of problems. Teachers and parents wanted it to make students ready for examinations before the big Class XII test. The value of CCE was not appreciated especially by teachers who were lowly paid and not prepared to go the extra mile and put in greater effort.
Apart from teachers, parents also failed to see the merit of the new system of learning. The new system is in vogue in many other countries.Parents found the earlier system more suitable to their expectations. Now the Class X boards are back.But one may wonder if it will not undermine the system of continuous and comprehensive evaluation. Besides, it will revive complaints about pressure put on students stifling their mental development.