Dont scrap class X board exam

Updated on: Monday, July 13, 2009

With the advancement in science and technology, the intelligence level and IQ of students have increased considerably increasing their level of comprehension and understanding. This enable the students to face the challenges of the present scenario boldly.

The proposal of making class X board exam as optional put forth by the HRD minister Kapil Sibal has sent out shock waves as the academic performance and the fundamental knowledge gained by the students will decline greatly.

“Children left to grow up like weeds are not likely to produce the fruits of genius.” The seeds of bravery, and courage of all virtues are all implanted at this age. A student without a goal will be like a wayward flower tend to go astray as he will find ample time to indulge in unnecessary pursuits. Parents on the other hand are likely to be casual and would fail to monitor the progress and regulate the academic performance of their children when necessary. Teachers too on their part would have a casual attitude towards academic growth of the children knowing pretty well that the child’s knowledge will not be measured. Students who have showed interest from the beginning for knowledge acquisition will cease to have the same interest. Without gaining adequate knowledge of basic concepts and fundamentals, direct entry to Hr.Sec. level will be almost similar to entry into college all of a sudden. Ignorant of the basics and learning all anew in the Hr.Sec. level will be Herculean task which may result in the poor academic performance coupled with lot of stress and emotional disturbance in the child. Grating of class X board exam may lead to more failures in the class XII board exam and would increase the number of dropouts too.

Unless effective evaluation system is skillfully crafted at every level to assess the students, it is difficult to ensure their overall academic growth. If there is no evaluation system, knowledge will be a far cry to the present generation. After passing X board exam, a good percentage of students are eligible to be appointed in class 3 posts in state and central government establishments. Rasping of Board Exams will deprive the students of this rare opportunity. Students opting for vocational (job oriented courses) through polytechnic after class X board exam will too be deprived of this facility. Their aptitude or passion for a particular group in Hr.Sec. will remain indecisive if there is no class X board exam.

Challenges unaccepted,opportunities lost
Today’s children are prepared to face challenges. Thanks to the positive side of media and the upgraded curriculum which motivate them to face challenges. Children are the future pillar of the nation and hence they need special care and protection. Being the asset of the nation, they should grow up mentally and physically fit and have good moral values. If there is no X Board Common Exam, the students will not set a target or goal for themselves. They may be tempted to waste their precious hours and this would lead to exploitation of their health and character. As a result, the self confidence and self esteem of the students may deteriorate. In stead of enabling them to construct the platform for their future, this proposal may hinder their academic development.

The reason stated behind this heartening proposal is exams weigh stress on the students. But the true fact is that students take Board Exam as yet another examination. They have been prepared physically, emotionally, mentally and academically at each level starting from pre-primary, primary, middle school and high school. So they take the exams with a positive stride. In case if one in a million students consider this as a stress he can very well be de-tressed through proper counseling by experts, parents and teachers. Teachers play the role of effective counselor, mother and mentor to the child in school and parents act as motivator and guide for the child at home. If this situation prevails at school and at home, the child will have a definitely balanced mood and mind.

Comprehending the entire syllabus of Std X is not a challenge for the students. X Board Exam acts as a preliminary / preparatory exam for all the forthcoming exams at the Hr.Sec. and the college level. Scraping this X Board Exam is nothing but it’s just like sending the students to compete without practice or rehearsal. Unless our students work assiduously in a focused manner, it is fairly difficult to become successful in life. This proposal must not distract the attention of the students from their occupation i.e. studying and gaining knowledge of the subject they are taught. Keeping the genuine causes of welfare of students in mind, let us uphold the students to concentrate on their studies and allow them to fulfill their ambitions. A well-designed evaluation system reveals a number of mental abilities of a student. Let us consider it as an effective tool to assess our students and not as a tool to stress them. Like good writing is putting the right words at the right place good evaluation system is putting the right student at the right place. It is therefore obvious that X Board Exam should continue as a essential part of our evaluation system.

(The author is the principal of Zion Mat. Hr. Sec. School, Chennai & president of principals of matriculation schools Assn.)

Dont scrap class X board exam

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