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Time of India
26-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
CBSE's 2-exam plan ‘rooted in compassion': Principals
Mumbai: From 2026, CBSE class 10 students will sit not for one board exam, but two sets of board exams, if they choose to. The first, in February, will cover all subjects and will be compulsory. The second, in May, will offer students the option to reappear for up to three papers to improve their scores. For many, it's a quiet revolution. A policy rooted in empathy, said school heads, and one that allows students to breathe—perhaps for the first time in board season. "This is a policy that gives students dignity and space," says Avnita Bir, director-principal of RN Podar School. "It reduces the stress of a make-or-break exam and offers flexibility of a second chance. But let's not ignore logistical hurdles—it will be challenging to conduct and evaluate two exams back-to-back..." You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Overall, the move has found support among educators. Educationist Francis Joseph calls it a "well-being" move. "This kind of flexibility was needed yesterday. We must allow our children to experience assessment with less fear and more fairness. I hope state and national boards take note. But I urge parents, especially, to avoid turning both attempts into battlegrounds. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Let this be a cushion, not a crucible." Anjali Bowen, principal of Ryan International School, Kandivli, said: "This change acknowledges what we've always known — that stress erodes learning. By allowing students to retake exams, CBSE is not diluting the rigour—it's deepening the compassion. It gives students more than one moment to shine." As educators, she added, "we were aware of this potential shift, and now that it's officially being implemented, our school and teachers are actively working on integrating this new structure into our academic planning. .." But on ground, teachers already anticipate the ripple effects. A Powai-based teacher said, "We are yet to understand how students will navigate the academic calendar between the two phases. We're waiting for the standard operating procedures to see how feasible it really is." Others said the model isn't entirely new. "It's like old wine in a new bottle," said a principal. "Earlier, students who failed could reappear a few months later. Now, the language has changed—we've taken away the word 'compartment', which carried shame, and replaced it with choice. That matters."
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Educationists uneasy over introduction of 3rd language in class 1
Mumbai: The state govt's decision to introduce the three-language formula right from Grade 1 runs contrary to the National Curriculum Framework 's approach: the third language, it says, belongs to the middle stage of schooling. The govt's announcement has perplexed educationists, who question the resources available for teaching languages and the purpose behind the decision. "Who says that Maharashtra has enough Hindi teachers?" asked a former senior education officer. Those who followed the making of the school education policy recalled that only last year, the state had released its draft curriculum framework which promised two languages—Marathi and English—from Grade 1, and a third—be it Hindi, Sanskrit, a regional tongue, or even a foreign one—starting in Grade 6. Public feedback was sought. A press note followed on May 27, 2024, reaffirming the same structure and stages. Under the national framework, language curricular goals for foundational years say, "Children develop effective communication skills for day-to-day interactions in two languages. Children develop fluency in reading and writing in language 1. Children begin to read and write in language 2." There is no mention of a third language in these early years. "This wasn't just policy. It was pedagogy," said Avnita Bir, Principal-Director of R N Podar School, a CBSE institute. "We used to offer two languages in grade 1, but when Maharashtra made Marathi compulsory, we included that too. Now, we're offering three from the start?" Educationists pointed out that before 2000, children began with one language in Grade 1—their medium of instruction. In the early 2000s, a second language was added—English was introduced in all non-English medium schools and Marathi in all non-Marathi medium schools using English, Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, Kannada, etc as medium of instruction. "It was introduced gently and playfully. No exams, no notebooks. Just familiarity. The syllabus was crafted very carefully," said Dhanavanti Hardikar, who headed Balbharti's language section. "For 25 years, this worked. And now, without warning, we're told to bring in a third language at Grade 1," Hardikar added. "This wasn't in the state's curriculum framework. A third language at Grade 1 should not be introduced at all, but if the state is adamant, it has to be through the play-way method, with no written work, no exams, and a huge tolerance towards students' errors." Vasant Kalpande, former state board chairman, said, "Instead of rushing in new languages, we need to focus on making sure what we teach is actually taught well."
