Indians are too rooted to rote learning. We need to posit our evaluation system largely towards measuring essential fundamental conceptualisation and the degree of mastery
The CBSE paper leak scandal and related troubles, including the impact on public goodwill, is a tragedy of an anachronistic secrecy-based examination system. On analysis, what is evident is that the very ‘pricy’ secrecy maintained around the question paper has been its own victim. In an age of microphotography, social media-based rapidly transmitted messaging and consumer culture sans any ethical foundation, it only takes the cyber match of a mobile-greedy risk-taking insider in the supply chain, a competent device and Wi-Fi to uplink the data to break into the vaults of CBSE or any other exam board. So long as high fidelity microphotography, cloud-based cyber linking and electronic transactability is available, no paper-based public exam system is free from the high possibility of a cyber/crypto breach. This risk is perpetually universal now.
The rational way to counter the risk of leaking question paper is to do away with the notion of ‘secrecy’ while setting the question paper. If the syllabus, textbooks and exam model question papers can be made available a priory to the students by the board officially, why hesitate to publish a question bank a month before the exam? To distinguish between average, good and superlative student performance, 50 per cent questions can be carried as such in the exam; 20-25 per cent carried at some minor aspects of detail; and 15-20 per cent questioning at the highest level of difficulty to get the granulated differentiation.
Once the question paper is published, the exam format can also be opened up gradually. Assuming 50 per cent questions having application orientation, calling for skill and imagination, prescribed NCERT textbooks can also be permitted for reference.
This will take the exam pressure off the students and make scoring and post public exam academic life more predictable. One legitimate question is whether the micro granulation achieved in the open question/exam mode stack will be sufficient differentiator in exams like NEET that requires micro-segmenting of qualifiers. This will be answered along with the process maturing by a bit of trial and error.
Anyway, a digitally mediated alternative, which is transparent and non-tamperable, is required to replace the centurion English grammar school style secret question and closed book examination which is founded on lack of faith on the learner, educator and examiner. One difficulty with the pre-published question paper is the aggressive coaching the institutes might engage in using the interval. This will lead to a battle of wits and tactics between CBSE examiners.
It may be a little too early to assimilate the concept of open- fully predicted questions and open book answering style initially. This is largely due to nonfamiliarity of the mode. Indians are too rooted to rote learning and the idea that it works. We need to poise the evaluation system largely towards a twin orientation — ie, one for measuring essential fundamental conceptualisation and also measure the degree of mastery.
Here, the limits of textbooks, syllabus and secret question must be overcome by ingenious question design. These are not unknown to the world of secondary education. We just need to capitalise on the present difficulty and do away with the near impossibility to maintain secrecy and resultant surprise element in our question setting for evaluation.
(The writer is a former Vice-chancellor and Civil Servant. Views expressed are personal)