Does the percentile system of evaluation or the grading system raise or decrease the level of education? “Students who study will study anyways,” said Usha Ram, Principal, Laxman Public School. “It won’t have much effect on the standard.” However, the grading system will help ease the pressure on the student.

There is a flip side. Making the Class X Boards optional might create problems for students who want to change their Board after their Class X exams. The move of scrapping the Class X exam will prove to be damaging for them “Students who want to switch Boards and join junior colleges will have a problem. Class X Boards gave a logical and objective way of transferring from one Board to another,” said Sumit Mehta, CEO, Zee Learn.

Although the CBSE’s move of changing the pattern of question paper few years ago has been welcomed, many are of the opinion that the emphasis has to be shifted from rote learning to real knowledge. “Saying that eliminating the Class X Boards will relieve parents and students of stress is not a solution. Emphasis should shift from rote learning and that is the only way to lessen the burden,” says Mehta. Sibal had used the word “traumatic” for the tenth Boards.

However, there was some appreciation from certain quarters as well. “The Boards did put unnecessary pressure on students and parents and because of the fear of the Boards, some students from poorer backgrounds drop out of schools. This step will help in checking the dropout rate,” said D K Tiwari, Secretary of Delhi Government School Teachers Association. “Suicide rates among students may come down as well.”

... contd.