The Government of India has taken a significant step by announcing that mandatory biannual appearances for Class 10 and 12 board exams will no longer be enforced. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan elucidated that this decision aims to alleviate the immense stress associated with the prospect of a single examination determining a student’s academic fate.
Pradhan emphasized the necessity of addressing concerns related to “dummy schools,” urging a comprehensive discourse on this matter.
Under this new approach, students will have the option of participating in board exams twice a year, mirroring the structure of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) for engineering programs. Importantly, this biannual examination regimen will be entirely voluntary, with no compulsory requirements imposed.
Pradhan articulated the rationale behind this policy shift, stating, “Students often experience anxiety, fearing the loss of a year or the potential for better performance. The introduction of this option seeks to mitigate the stress induced by the reliance on a single opportunity.”
The Ministry of Education unveiled the New Curriculum Framework (NCF) in August, ushering in the era of biannual board exams. This approach aims to provide students with ample time and opportunities to excel academically and to secure their best possible scores.
Pradhan expressed that he has received positive feedback from students regarding the initiative to conduct board exams twice a year. Furthermore, he revealed the intention to implement this system as early as 2024.
Addressing the sensitive issue of student suicides in Kota, Pradhan conveyed the importance of preserving lives and emphasized that it is a collective responsibility to ensure students lead stress-free lives.
In the realm of education reform, this policy shift represents a substantial departure from the traditional once-a-year board examination system and is poised to have a profound impact on the academic landscape in India.
