New Delhi: Government is planning radical overhaul of the education system which envisages establishing single higher education nationwide authority, scrapping of CBSE as well as state boards, making 10th exam optional, replacing marks with grades, and steps to prevent educational malpractices. Making the Class X board exam optional in CBSE-affiliated schools, if possible from next year itself, would be the cornerstone of the revamp plan which would include academic reforms, including a semester system and credit transfers.
Statement of Kapil Sibal, HRD Minister, gives a clue of the line of thinking in the Government. To quote him, “Sleepless nights over Class X examination are not needed. We will reform it and make Class X examination optional. We should not traumatise education. It is unacceptable.” Sibal further stated that extensive negotiations with the state governments and other quarters would be held to finalise the process of reforms. Since the CBSE is under the Central Government, the wheel of reforms might start rolling from there.
By making Class X exams optional, Sibal meant that students who wish to continue in the same school and do not need a CBSE certificate can choose not to appear for the boards. Those students will be judged on quarterly internal assessments. But students who plan to move to another school after class X would be required to take the board exam. The Government also plans to replace marks with grades.
The Government also proposes to set up an independent autonomous accreditation body for school education. Assistance of private sector would be sought to create and run new schools. Bar would be raised for higher education institutes.
Proposed changes are based on the recommendations of the Yashpal committee and National Knowledge Commission reports.