NEW DELHI: Teachers and other stakeholders have expressed concern at the decision of Central Board of Secondary Education to hold the 2021-22 board exams in two parts.
The main concern includes the short duration of the second year with many stressing that the announcement of syllabus rationalisation should not be delayed any further.
The two terms of the CBSE exams would be held in November-December and March-April. The academic session is to be divided into two equal terms. The syllabus for the board examination would be rationalised. There would also be three periodic tests, student enrichment, portfolio and practical work or speaking listening activities or project.
Rajpal Singh, principal of Rajkiya Pratibha Vikas Vidyalaya, Yamuna Vihar, said, “This session cannot be planned in mid-session. It should have been earlier and well in time. It is already July and we are clueless about what syllabus is to be followed. Moreover, the duration of the second term is very less.”
Tania Joshi, principal of The Indian School, said that most people were highlighting the syllabus aspect.
“They are asking if a chapter that is not a part of the first term has been started, then what do they do. But I feel we have an idea of how teaching must be done, so it should not be much of a problem. With the board predicting different situations, we have already told the children that their internals are up to date. Students have been raising questions about the MCQ. Though it is a comprehensive document, they will have to be trained in using OMR and other things,” added Joshi.
Keshav Agarwal, president of Educators Society, an association of around 300 coaching centres, highlighted that with several unit tests and other assessments, children would be under pressure. “The gap between the first and second term is too little. It will put pressure on both students and teachers. The second term is for a subjective paper and preparation time is less. Also, JEE main exams are held in January. By that time, only 50% of the syllabus would have been completed,” he added.
However, Sindhura Narayana, MD of The Narayana Group, welcomed the proactive release of the special assessment and called it a good scheme. “The only point of concern is the authenticity of exam results in the case of students attempting both term exams from home. Some form of proctoring will have to be envisaged to ensure that no malpractice occurs,” she added.
