According to the (NCF), Board exams in two terms might be back for class 12 and the final result for classes 10 and 12 will take into account the marks of previous class.
Draft National Curriculum Framework
It seems that the NCF is being drafted according to the new National Education Policy (NEP).
The proposed NCF is doing away with the current practice of dividing streams into science, arts or humanities and commerce for classes 11 and 12.
For the unawares, this is not the first attempt at reforming board exams, it was last revised in 2005.
Reportedly, the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) was introduced for class 10 in 2009.
However, it was revoked in 2017 and the board reverted to the old model of year-end exams.
During the pandemic as a one-time measurement, the board exams for classes 10 and 12 were also split into two terms.
The old format of year-end examination was resumed for the crucial exams this year.
NCF Draft In Final Stage
Further, the draft NCF proposes two term exams for classes 11 and 12 calling it “modular board exams”.
Suggesting that splitting the calendar into two parts for classes 9 and 10 is “unnecessary”.
The draft, which is in its final stages, will be put in public domain soon for feedback from stakeholders and the new system will be implemented from 2024 academic session, as per the information provided by Education Ministry officials.
The secondary stage will comprise four years of multidisciplinary study (class 9-12), building on subject oriented pedagogical and curricular style of the Middle Stage… greater flexibility and student choice of subjects, according to the NEP 2020.
Its eight curricular areas include humanities, mathematics and computing, vocational education, physical education, arts education, social science, science and interdisciplinary areas.
While the secondary stage has been divided into two phases as classes 9-10 and classes 11-12.
According to this, Broad curricular areas such as science, social science, humanities will be offered in classes 9 and 10.
Similarly, other disciplines such as history, physics, language within each Curricular Area will be offered in class 11 and 12 to enable depth.
Further, the draft NCF says, “to complete Class 10, students will complete two essential courses from each of the eight curricular areas available from a total of 16 essential courses across two years of Class 9 and 10. Both the classes will follow an annual structure (a semester structure in these classes is possible to construct but is unnecessary since all students will do all the essential courses), ” while describing the structure for class 9 and 10.
It further added, “Students must clear eight board examinations at the end of Class 10- these assess each of the two essential courses in each curricular area learnt during class 9 and 10. The final certification will be based on the cumulative result of each of the examinations,”.
The same set of eight curricular areas will continue to be offered For classes 11 and 12.
But choice-based courses will be designed based on the disciplines (example: humanities discipline will offer languages, literature and philosophy) within the curricular areas to ensure deeper and more rigorous engagement.
