The AAP government in Delhi wants schools in the capital to give 15 grace marks per paper to Classes IX and XI students who took the annual exams this year and also allow those who would not pass even then to sit for compartment exams in all five main subjects if necessary.
The guidelines brought out by the government, a continuation of those issued last year in view of students suffering in the thick of the deadly second wave of Covid, has irked sections of academics and teachers who have alleged bias and slack-inducing policies from a government that came to power in Punjab earlier this year on the promise of “Delhi-like best education”.
The CBSE, to which most schools in the capital are affiliated, has not responded to the Delhi government’s guidelines. Many schools have refused to go by the guidelines.
The relaxations, part of the Delhi government’s promotion policy issued last month, trace their genesis to the crippling effect Covid had on education last year, but its continuation at a time schools have reopened and life has more or less returned to normal has irked academics who see a bad precedent and lack of application of mind in tailoring strategies to changing situations.
Many private schools have expressed concern that such low targets will demotivate teachers and keep students from striving towards excellence.
The National Progressive School Conference (NPSC), an association of private schools that provides inputs on policy matters related to education, has protested the continuation of the previous year’s guidelines.
Annual exams are over in all schools and now the Delhi government wants those who did not offer relaxations as recommended by it to grant 15 grace marks per paper and also make arrangements for another round of compartment exams for those who would still not pass.
Six school principals told The Telegraph that the Delhi government’s policy was uncalled for and violated the examination bye-laws of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to which all government schools and the majority of private schools in the capital are affiliated.
The NPSC last month wrote to CBSE chairman Vineet Joshi requesting him to urge the Delhi government to allow the schools to follow the board’s rules.
Schools affiliated to the CBSE are supposed to follow the board’s exam bye-laws and the Delhi government’s guidelines are not binding on them.
According to CBSE exam bye-laws, a student can be granted five grace marks in one paper for a maximum of two papers in Classes IX and XI. Even then if a student fails, he or she can appear for compartment exam in one paper. Amid the pandemic last year, students were allowed by the CBSE to sit for compartment exams in two papers.
A principal said the Delhi government’s guidelines promoted bias. “A student in Delhi can get promoted by scoring only 18 per cent in every paper. His or her counterpart in any other state will have to score 33 per cent, the CBSE pass mark. Is it not introducing discrimination?” the principal asked.
In its protest letter to the CBSE, NPSC chairperson Sudha Acharya has objected to both the 15 grace marks and the provision for appearing in compartment exams in all main papers. She said this would perpetuate learning gaps.
“The CBSE is the national board of international repute and is committed to deliver quality education. All affiliated schools adhere to the exam bye-laws laid down by the CBSE, and should therefore, follow a uniform promotion policy,” the letter said.
“Teachers will lack the inspiration to set milestones for students and students will hardly appreciate the true worth or value of education in such a relaxed system,” it added.
The Delhi government’s directorate of education has also received protest messages from several quarters.
The Telegraph sent emails to Delhi education secretary H. Rajesh Prasad and CBSE chairman Vineet Joshi on April 18 seeking their perspective on the concerns expressed by principals. Their response is awaited.
