OPEN HOUSE: DO YOU THINK 30:30:40 FORMULA FOR EVALUATION OF CLASS XII RESULTS IS FAIR ENOUGH?

Edu system needs to devise more ways

Under the given circumstances, when taking annual examination would have been a great risk for lakhs of students, the formula proposed by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is the best alternative. According to this formula, results of students of Class XII will be based on the performance of individual student in Class X, XI and XII with a weight age of 30 per cent, 30 per cent and 40 per cent respectively. If we go with the prevailing annual exam system, which just allows a student to reproduce textbook-based information, there is little scope for assessment of critical and analytical abilities of a student. No doubt annual examination is a must but with the introduction of the new formula, the present debate should continue to evolve a new way to assess the true knowledge of a student in each subject before completing school education. Just like other exams such as conducting competitive examination for banking and other all India services etc. examination for students of Class XII should also be designed in such a way that their knowledge is tested. To make more changes to the education system, the same panel should keep on devising new ways that can be used to evaluate students’ performance.

Naresh Johar

Transparency must be ensured

The overall criteria of evaluation of Class XII students by the CBSE seems to be fair but some issues must be addressed to reassure students about it. Since the Class X marks considered will be the average of the best three subjects among five, it would be quite fair. But the Achilles’ heel of the formula lies in grading where the influential guardians can pressurise school authorities and get the grades manipulated in their wards’ favour. Further, normally students of Class XI do not put much effort in studies as the examination is conducted by the schools. And this examination is not held on equitable basis as each school has its own set of questions which may be easy in some and tough in others leading to a clear disparity. Taking in account 30 percent marks obtained in Class XI could affect the total percentage. This will lead to biased marking as Class XI result is not prepared on the basis of a uniform criterion. Although external members would also be represented on the panel of result committees, transparency must be ensured to remove any apprehension in the minds of the students about fairness in the preparation of results.

Anil Khanna

Not all satisfied with the CBSE formula

The Supreme Court has accepted the CBSE formula to evaluate students and publish their results by July 31in accordance with the 30:30:40 mechanism. The formula has not satisfied everyone but has been taken with a pinch of salt. Some students and parents’ bodies have questioned the bona fides of the formula. They grudge that the inclusion of Class XI marks will affect the college admissions of students drastically. And that allotting 30 per cent weightage to Class X marks is also unfair. Likewise, taking pre-board marks into account may also not be a good call. But since the apex court has given its approval to the much maligned formula, the question of it being correct and satisfactory assessment becomes irrelevant. Even then there are some apprehensions over the adopted marking system. Besides, it has many loopholes especially for the students who didn’t have a consistent academic record throughout the season. Their previous record has a potential to hamper their aggregate performance. Inclusion of Class XI marks in the final result has not gone down well with them. Dissatisfied elements aver that marking should be based on the performance of the current batch and not on any previous batch. The schools have been authorised to moderate the marks. Their manipulation may make or mar the career of some students. Students not satisfied with their results will be provided the opportunity to sit in an exam whenever the conditions become conducive for holding such exam. It means till then the sword of Damocles will keep hanging over their heads. Considering all this, the formula is a quick fix solution but the best in the present scenario.

Tarsem S Bumrah

Best way out amid pandemic

The education system has been disturbed a lot in the past two years. Due to the pandemic, the institutes had to switch to online mode as physical classes were not possible. Amid, all these restrictions physical examinations were also not possible and thus the formula devised by the boards is the best way out in these circumstances. I reckon that definitely it would not be a correct and a satisfactory assessment of students because the students who were actually working very hard to score well in their boards are unhappy. We have no other option left to stay to the confine of our homes. So, in today’s scenario of pandemic this is the best decision taken because no student will be disadvantaged. Though some demerits cannot be ruled out, it still is the best way out.

Izleen

Formula should be adopted in future

The 30:30:40 marking scheme is in stark contrast with the traditional strict marking schemes and favours students. The adverse and ambiguous present day circumstances allow liberal assessment of exams. The 30:30:40 formula allows Class XII board exams to be assessed in terms of a student’s performance in Class X and XI, henceforth enabling Class XII students to achieve higher marks even though Covid may have been detrimental to their studies. With this decision being announced in June 2021; much later in the CBSE’s academic calendar 2020-21, the leniency is justified. Students stay miserable with the inability to improve grades from the past. While this new formula is necessary it is also a big step for the CBSE board. I believe that students should be prepared for the worst. Following this decision, the upcoming Class XII students should make the best out of their formative years. This new decision will most certainly be representative of any such unpredictable change brought by the CBSE in future. I learnt and preach to all students that academic integrity and good consistently in academics can take you up.

Ruhani Verma

Quite satisfactory, Sensible decision

Due to the prevailing pandemic, school boards are helpless to take examinations in proper way. Some boards have decided to promote the students without taking any exam or on the basis of internal assessment. The 30:30:40 formula of the CBSE is quite satisfactory and correct method to assess students as there will be no injustice to hard working or intelligent students at least their hard work in previous classes will bear fruit to them as they actually deserved. The students, who were not keen in their studies or were ignorant towards their studies in previous classes, will get marks according to their performance. So in my view it is very sensible decision. At least mediocre and intelligent students will not be put under the same umbrella. Students will be assessed according to their capability.

Varinder Kapoor

Unfair to students, needs to be reformed

Syllabus and exams in Class XI are set in such a way that students could prepare for Class XII, which is why it is very difficult. A lot of students end up failing in Class XI because of strict evaluation as well. Using those scores for final evaluation is unfair for the students. In addition, pre-boards this year were held online and a lot of students cheated and ended up getting good grades. How is it fair to students who genuinely worked hard? There was a huge loss of productivity due to online classes and Covid last year, and a lot of students were unprepared for their pre-boards as a result. Students weren’t able to focus and prepare much. And then sudden announcement of pre-boards left a lot of students unprepared leading them to either skip exams or score comparatively less. Many considered pre-boards as a practice exam and were hopeful to score better in boards. Students tend not to focus much on scoring considering the fact it’ll not be counted in future.

Sandeep Kumar Sharma

Majority of students happy with method

Some students are not satisfied with this evaluation formula as they are thinking that Class X and XI marks should not be added in their Class XII results. Though the Supreme Court had given thumbs up to this method. Due to Covid, it is very difficult and dangerous for a government to conduct physical exams by putting lives of all students at risk. I think it is going to be very difficult for teachers too to calculate total output of a student, based upon three different classes. Most of the candidates are supposedly happy with this method. The government has also given a chance to students who wish to improve their score by appearing for physical exams later when the conditions for conducting exams are suitable in the nation.

Karan Sethi

Class XI marks will be a deciding factor

The Supreme Court has given approval to the formula. Most of the students have also appreciated the method as a good decision while some have also said considering 30 per cent marks of Class XI was not a right decision as many students do not take Class XI that seriously and the scores granted are also less in this class. Therefore, the students are worried that 30 per cent Class XI marks will be affecting their result badly. The students who will to improve their score can also appear for physical exams once the Covid situation is normalised. Most of the students say that they do not know when the situation will return to normal. It will be too late for the CBSE to conduct Class XII exams and announce their result. By then, many entrance tests and next class sessions would have been started. The result of Class XII will be out on July 31 and most of the students are expected to be satisfied with the scores.

Sucha Sagar

Class X result given more weightage

Any result based on statistical approximation can never substitute physical examinations and its assessment especially in a large country with various kinds of schooling systems will not be fair. The formula seems unfair as Class X performance is being given more weightage in Class XII performance assessment. There is a wide variation between Class X and Class XII performance since in Class X there are no subject choices, unlike in Class XI and XII. Also, the policy of internal assessment should be uniform for both the central boards. Evidently, there are some challenges to uniformly implement the CBSE plan, and its success depends on the approach of school result committees responsible for inclusion of Class XII marks. Uneven access to smart devices and online connectivity and inability to appear for online classes will be impact their scores.

Dr Simarpreet Sandhu

20:30:50 formula would have been better

The good thing about the 30:30:40 formula is that the maximum weightage has been given to Class XII. It is in this class that a majority of students put their maximum effort towards studies as these marks are used at many institutions throughout their lives. I believe that ascending approach should be used by the CBSE in their formula to evaluate students. This would mean that minimum weightage should be given to Class X performance, more to Class XI performance and maximum weightage to Class XII performance. So, the formula can be revised to 20:30:50. This should be used as Class XI and XII are like selective classes as the students select the subjects as per their own liking. So giving more importance to these classes vis-à-vis Class X can help the colleges and universities to get the best talent pool that will help both sides in the long run.

Jatinderpal Singh Batth

Chances of favouritism will increase

As per my opinion, taking into account Class X results is justified, but 30 per cent weightage given to Class 11 and 40 per cent to Class XII pre-board exams and practical assessment is not. This is really a matter a concern and debate. We know that most students do not take Class XI seriously as marks obtained in these internal school examinations have never mattered until now. Moreover, these exams of Class XI are not standardised resulting into disparity at the level of difficulty. This may bring down the comparative score of brilliant students. We must not ignore difficult transition from Class X to Class XI and many students do not do well in Class XI and this may affect their results. Class XII pre-boards and practical assessment also may see disparity. Many schools could not conduct offline pre-board exams due to Covid. Students may see exaggerated marks in online exams because it is not unusual for them to take external help in online tests. For those who took physical exams in classrooms, the results might be different. Last but not least, including Class XI marks and Class XII pre-board exams and practical assessment will not offer a level playing field and may lead to malpractices and favouritism too.

Dr Vishal Arora

Not fair, but only possible way out

Any formula or decision on education in special circumstance like Covid fury must ensure that students are not deprived of what they deserve and are competent to hone their innate potentials. More intelligent and outstanding lot should not be equated with average or below average students, saying in other word, “be tarred with the same brush”. We have no doubt in the capability of educationists and higher courts and all decisions would be taken in the larger interest of students. A consensus at nation-level is imperative. There seems to be some logic behind the students’ approach of seeking SC intervention in to the matter. A number of students will be affected by the formula and it also doesn’t ensure parity. But, keeping the present situation in mind, no other alternative is as good as this one.

BM Singh

No other alternative with Education boards

Approach of all students is usually not the same in Class XI. Many are non-serious earlier and get on pace later while some are focused towards their studies from the beginning. Also, due to a shift to higher secondary pattern many also are unable to make their mind about the stream that they wish to choose and sometimes shift from one stream to another. During this period of transition, most of their time is gone in making decisions and grabbing information. It is near the pre-board exams that they start understanding the pattern and the right approach to examinations. Thus giving equal importance to Class XI and XII pre-boards is not fair. Many schools are also said to be awarding less scores to students to prepare them for boards which will now be affecting the students badly. Though amid the pandemic this is still the best policy to evaluate students, I appeal college and universities to give fair chance to all deserving students.

Manish Aggarwal

3-yr period not enough to evaluate a student

Covid has affected students’ school education as well as examination results. For Class XII students, the CBSE has devised three years performance evaluation method with online registration facility for the examination on the board’s portal. Students and parents have flagged their concern and suggested to follow either last six years’ performance evaluation or internal assessment of students’ performance.

TS Bhatti

Best in present scenario of Covid

Times have been tough for everyone more so for students who have borne a huge brunt of it. Their studies have taken a big hit because of delayed exams and results. Our large student community is on the threshold where after completing schooling they enter into various streams of their choice for higher education. The first thing they need at this point is the result of Class XII. The 30:30:40 formula seems to be the best in the present scenario. This seems fair as it is dividing their percentage over a period of three years and not just the past one year which has been extremely stressful. Besides, the students have also been assured of a chance to appear for physical exams after the situation improves if they are not satisfied with their result.

Dr Vani Arora

a step in right direction

Covid may prove to be a blessing in disguise. The CBSE had to, willy nilly, cancel Class XII exams compelling it to seek other channels of evaluation like results of pre-board examinations, Class X, internal assessment scores etc. This might have started the long overdue process of examination reforms. The bogey of a final examination takes away the will to discover, the joy of learning as well as the pleasure of teaching. Now, with the 30:30:40 formula, it seems something like that will be the criteria for evaluation in the future. Perhaps it is time to look at how other countries examine their school graduates. Whatever, the examiners are by and large happy.

Prof Mohan Singh

QUESTION

Covid fatalities and cases are decreasing in the district and unlocking process has already begun with lifting of the weekend curfew. How should the district administration prepare itself to prevent the anticipated third wave?

Suggestions in not more than 200 words can be sent to amritsardesk@tribunemail.com  by Thursday (July 1).