Class 12 boards to have questions on values in 2013

Don't be surprised next year if during your Class XI final and XII board exams you find a question which does not strictly adhere to the subject. The Central Board of Secondary Education has decided to introduce 'value-based questions' of three to five marks in all the major subjects. Value-based questions will be introduced in 15 subjects.

'Aditya participated in a group discussion in his school on the ill effects of tobacco on human health. In the evening he goes with his family for dinner and insists on sitting in the 'non-smoking area' to which his father (who is a heavy smoker) objects . In this situation, who wins your support — Aditya's concern for health and environment, or his father's objection? Justify giving two reasons. Also, suggest any three effective propaganda campaigns for anti-tobacco awareness' . The aforementioned lines is actually a question sample that a biology student of Class XII can expect next year.

The chairman of CBSE, Vineet Joshi, said, "CBSE has decided to follow an interdisciplinary approach in value education where values are intermingled with the content of all the major subjects in Classes XI and XII . The Board has also decided to add 5% weightage in the major subjects (English, Hindi, mathematics, biology , physics, chemistry, accountancy , history, geography , business studies, entrepreneurship and economics ) in Classes XI and XII through questions which will be integrated with the content of the subject and analysed on the basis of the values it reflects."

The questions will be for five marks in a paper of 100 marks and three to four marks in a question paper of 70-90 marks, which will "come into effect from next year" .

According to the document announcing the introduction of the value-based questions, it has been widely felt that the existing educational ecosystem needs to be further strengthened to deliver values enshrined in the Constitution of India. The curricula cutting across all subjects need to articulate values in explicit terms and the assessment schemes, but at the same time must reciprocate by assigning weightage to value-based items.