In the schools of the West, the percentile system of evaluation is already in place. The ministry’s decision to eliminate Class X Boards and to implement the percentile system received flak as well. “We cannot blindly follow the western countries, the infrastructure has to be there to support an alternative system,” said another principal from of a Delhi private school who did not want to be named.

A few of the private schools in Delhi are left in a fix after Kapil Sibal’s statement. His stance regarding the selection of stream after Class X be left to the student and not the school has also angered a particular section.

“We have limited seats in each stream. There is a rat race for certain streams among the students. The child at such a young age does not know his aptitude, and this is where the school’s decision to put him in different streams come in,” said Puri.

A debate has already been raging about the allocation of streams by schools. Schools asking the students to go for a certain stream has been in the line of fire for quite some time. “A school knows a child, the teachers know the child’s aptitude, a school should be the one to help the child make the choice,” said another private school principal who did not wish to be named.

There were suggestions regarding a proper link between school education and the university level education as well. “If all students want to opt for the science stream in Class XI, does the government have enough medical colleges to accommodate all students?” asked another principal of a private Delhi school.

... contd.