Nearly a week ago, Sibal’s announcement regarding scrapping of Class X exams had raised many eyebrows in the country.
Sibal said that in CBSE schools, Class X board exams will be made optional from the next session. He also added that instead of the present marking system, the schools would now resort to grades in classes IX and X.
Instructions have already been issued to the CBSE to put these two measures into practice by 2010.
Meanwhile, the minister clarified that Class X exams would continue to be held by the state boards as usual. He said, “How can we ask state boards to do something like Class X boards all together? That discussion can happen later once the quality of state boards improve.”
“Right now, only CBSE schools up to Class XII have been told to end Class X board exams from the next session. Schools that are up to Class X will, however, need to retain the board system. So will the schools where Class X children want to enter pre-university instead of going to Class XI,” Sibal affirmed.
