CBSE students in Nashik prefer board exams over internal tests

The purpose of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)'s plan to make board exams optional in class X seems to be defeated in Nashik.

While in the last year, a big chunk of students from class X opted out of board exams, this year the numbers are reduced to single digits in most city schools. Worried about closing down their options instate institutions, most students have opted for board exams.

Some of the schools have even asked students to appear for the board exams only. The plan was introduced in the academic session in 2010-11 to reduce unnecessary stress caused due to the boards. Last year, Kendriya Vidyalaya 1 in Deolali had only 17 students opting for the board exams. The rest of them preferred the school based assessment, where schools conducted an internal test.

"After the results were out, our students had to run around to get multiple approvals. Students who were interested in taking up admissions to state's junior colleges managed to get seats which were left after the mainstream admissions were over. Even after the admissions were given, they did not have the board certificate which was mandatory for their admissions in junior colleges," said Shiny George, the principal of Kendriya Vidyalaya 1 in Deolali. She added that students interested in polytechnic courses offered by the state were disappointed after they learnt that the school assessment results will not get them admissions.

"Polytechnic courses ensure a lateral entry in to engineering courses in the second year. Many students aspire to get into engineering courses via this channel," added George.

In another Kendriya Vidyalaya in Nashik city, only 25% students had opted for the board exams last year. This year, however, the school asked all its students to appear for the board exams.

The vice-principal said that most students, who are interested in the state level entrance exams, prefer moving to the state board colleges post class X. "However, with a centralised test for medical and engineering admissions, there should not be any problem in future," added the principal.

Vice principal M Sawhney, from Army Public School in Deolali, said that last year they had maximum number of students appearing for the school based-exam, however, those the numbers have drastically come down this year. "This year more than 60% of students are appearing for the board exams as they wish to move out of CBS board," said Sawhney.