Latest news with #2023NationalCurriculumFramework
The Print
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
CBSE releases final two board exam policy for class 10, makes first option mandatory; second optional
'However, teachers and principals suggested making the first exam mandatory to ensure students take it one change we have incorporated in the final policy,' Bhardwaj told the media. The Board had released a draft of this policy in February and sought suggestions and feedback from stakeholders. According to CBSE Controller of Examinations Sanyam Bhardwaj, the majority of the feedback supported conducting exams twice, with 65% of students in favour. New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Wednesday released its final policy for conducting two board exams for Class 10 students in the academic year starting 2026, making the first exam mandatory and the second optional. The two-board exam system aligns with the 2023 National Curriculum Framework, updated to reflect the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, which aims to reduce the high-stakes nature of board exams by allowing students two attempts per year—one main exam and one optional improvement exam. The exams will be held in February and May. To ensure that students take the first board exam seriously, which will serve as the main examination, the CBSE has decided that students who are absent in three or more subjects during the first exam will not be eligible to appear for the second (optional) exam. According to the final policy, such students will be placed in the 'Essential Repeat' category and will only be allowed to reappear in the main exams the following year, in February. However, exceptions will be made for certain cases. Sportspersons will be allowed to appear in the second exam for subjects whose exams coincided with their sporting events. Additionally, students from winter-bound schools in regions like Ladakh may choose to appear in either the first or second exam for the subjects offered. Second board option in up to 3 subjects The CBSE has also limited the number of subjects a student can appear for in the second board exam to three. This means Class 10 students may take a second attempt in any three subjects from Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and languages. This decision, which was not part of the draft policy, was made based on stakeholder feedback. 'It aims to ensure that students take the first board exam seriously and only reappear for subjects in which they genuinely wish to improve. We just don't want the second board option to become an opportunity for shopping,' said CBSE chairperson Rahul Singh. Meanwhile, both exams will be based on the full syllabus for the academic year. The scheme of studies and the exam structure will remain unchanged. Students who receive a Compartment result in the first exam will be allowed to appear in the second leg under the Compartment category. Additionally, students from the previous year's First or Third Chance Compartment and Improvement categories will also be eligible to take the second exam. Currently, CBSE conducts Compartment and Improvement exams in July. Under the new system, these will be held in May, allowing students to join the next academic session on time. How will the results be declared? According to the Board, the results of the first leg will be announced in April, while the results of the second exam will be declared in June. The performance in the main exam will be made available on DigiLocker, which can be used for admission to Class XI if the student opts not to appear for the second exam for improvement. Pass certificates will be issued to all students after the results of the second exam. Facilities for verification, and re-evaluation will be available only after the declaration of results for the second exam, applicable to both the main and second exams. Students who do not qualify in the main exam will be granted provisional admission to Class 11th. 'Their admission will be confirmed based on the results of the second exam,' the Board stated. (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: CBSE's mother tongue circular has stumped school principals. Everyone's interpreting it differently
Hans India
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Kerala HC stays Lakshadweep administration's order to remove Mahal, Arabic from school curriculum
Kochi: The Kerala High Court has stayed the Lakshadweep administration's recent decision to remove Mahal and Arabic from the curriculum of schools in the Union Territory. The division bench, chaired by Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji, stayed the administration's decision. "The point emphasized by the Petitioner, which prima facie, we find merit in, is that for the implementation of the (National Education) Policy in a particular area, there has to be an application of mind and a study of local conditions to determine what is best for the educational interests of the community, in order to achieve the objectives of the Policy. The Policy itself contemplates such an application of mind, noting that various factors are involved in the said decision. As contended by the learned counsel for the Petitioner, a language holds deep cultural significance, and any changes could have serious ramifications," said the Court. The Court pointed out, "Ordinarily, the Court would not interfere in matters of education policy, particularly with respect to the selection of languages in the curriculum. However, this is self-restraint based on the premise that decisions relating to education policy are made by experts in the field after an in-depth study and wide consultation," added the Bench. Incidentally, it was on May 14th, the Education Department of the Union Territory issued the order removing the two languages under the 2023 National Curriculum Framework (NCF), which is part of the 2020 National Education Policy (NEP). According to the order, all schools in Minicoy island will offer Malayalam and English as the first and second languages, and Hindi will replace the local language Mahal and Arabic as the third language. This led to widespread protests on the islands. It was against this order that a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed by Ajas Akber, a social worker and President of the Lakshadweep Unit of the National Students Union of India. The petitioner pointed out that Mahal is the exclusive language spoken by Minicoy islanders, and it symbolises their tradition and culture. He went on to further point out that Mahal was being taught only in primary classes and was a foundation course to consolidate and uphold the tradition and culture of Minicoy, which happens to be a pure linguistic minority among the Union Territory. Akber also pointed out that by removing the Mahal from the curriculum, the Lakshadweep administration has placed an open challenge to the constitutional rights of a minority community, which has distinct traditions and culture. The Court, after hearing both parties, stayed the order for the pendency of the PIL and left it open to the Lakshadweep Administration to conduct appropriate studies on the issue. "It is open to the Union Territory to conduct a study of the local conditions in the context of the prevailing Education Policies and to engage with all the stakeholders through a meaningful process of consultation (not merely for the purpose of record). If such studies and consultations are carried out, it will be open to the Respondents to apply for appropriate orders, and such application will be considered on its own merits," read the Court order.
