CBSE Class 12 Results: Concerns Over New Marking System Addressed

Introduction to the Issue

After the release of the CBSE Class 12 results, numerous students expressed disappointment over receiving lower marks than anticipated. They attributed this to the newly implemented 'On-Screen Marking (OSM)' system used during the evaluation of their answer sheets. Many students had expected to score between 90% and 95% but found their actual results to be significantly lower. This dissatisfaction led to a wave of social media posts where students shared their mark sheets.

Official Response from Education Secretary

In response to these concerns, Sanjay Kumar, the Secretary of School Education and Literacy, held a press conference to clarify the situation. He acknowledged the recent announcement of the Class 12 results and noted that the OSM system had been utilized for evaluations this year. He addressed the concerns regarding a reported decline in the pass percentage, which dropped from 88% to 85%, and acknowledged that some students felt their scores did not reflect their performance.

Clarification on OSM Implementation

OSM System Not New

Kumar emphasized that the On-Screen Marking system is not a new initiative, having been first introduced by CBSE in 2014. However, due to technical limitations at that time, its implementation was halted until this year.

Manual Evaluation of Answer Sheets

Offline Marking of 13,000 Answer Sheets

He further explained that approximately 13,000 answer sheets were marked offline due to errors detected during the evaluation process. The answer sheets from this year's Class 12 exams were scanned to create PDF copies for assessment. A total of 9.8 million answer sheets were scanned, and a robust three-tier security protocol was established to ensure accuracy. Kumar noted that some answer sheets were illegible due to faint ink, necessitating manual evaluation by teachers.

Re-checking Fees and Policies

Fee Structure for Re-evaluation

Kumar announced that students wishing to view their answer sheets would incur a fee of ₹100. For verification of their papers, an additional ₹100 would be charged, while re-evaluation of a specific question would cost ₹25. Importantly, if a student's marks are increased during the verification process, the entire fee will be refunded. He reassured that the welfare of students is a priority for both the Ministry of Education and CBSE.

Reduction in Fees

Fees Have Been Reduced

The Education Secretary also highlighted that the fee for obtaining a copy of the answer sheet has been significantly reduced from ₹700 to ₹100. Similarly, the validation fee has been lowered from ₹500 to ₹100. For rechecking a specific question, the total fee would be ₹225. Kumar reiterated that the focus is on the mental well-being of students rather than financial aspects.

Conclusion

Kumar concluded by stating that students would be provided with copies of their answer sheets, allowing them to review the marking process. He expressed confidence that this transparency would help students understand their scores better and determine if they deserved higher marks.