NOT all seem to be elated with the Union HRD Ministry’s idea of making the Class X examinations optional.

Speaking at a five-day training programme for principals of schools affiliated to the Council of Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) at IIM-Calcutta on Monday, the Chairman of the Council, Neil O’Brien, said: “Personally, I do not think there is a need to do away with Class X examinations.”

“Think of the rural areas where many students want to pass the Class X examination so that they can apply for jobs. Class X examination is a benchmark for them,” said Brien. The Council has more than 1,500 schools affiliated to it with over 300 schools in West Bengal.

The CISCE is the only board after the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to have a presence throughout the country. At a time when CBSE has made Class X examinations optional from 2011, CISCE is insisting on carrying on with the Class X examinations.

According to the chairman, the Council is not very keen on having absolute grading —grading without marks — in Class X and Class XII board exams.

“There is also a perception among many that awarding grades reduces the importance of an examination. But the pertinent question is what the universities accept for admitting students,” said Brien, adding that the Council will only think about it once all the state boards accept the proposal of absolute grading.

Brien, who has been the chairman of CISCE since 1994, points out that such a system is aimed towards producing single type of students geared towards IITs and other premier institutions.

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