CBSE Class 12 Results Show Decline in Pass Percentage Amid New Evaluation Methods
Overview of CBSE Class 12 Results
The recent results for the CBSE Class 12 examinations indicate a drop in the pass percentage, reflecting the board's increased focus on competency-based assessments and on-screen marking (OSM) systems. This observation was shared by school principals and educators. On Wednesday, CBSE announced that over 85% of students passed the Class 12 exams, although this marks a 3% decrease compared to the previous year. For the first time, the evaluation of Class 12 answer sheets was conducted entirely through the OSM system.
Central Schools Achieve High Pass Rates
This year, the pass percentage for central schools reached an impressive 98.55%. Sudhakar Prasad Thakur, a former principal of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) in Delhi, attributed this success to the organization's coordinated educational approach. He noted that identifying and addressing students' learning deficiencies has proven effective. Thakur stated, 'KVS's approach is highly organized and coordinated. Teachers and principals pay close attention to each student, systematically identifying their learning gaps, which helps develop their skills and competencies, enabling them to solve problems more effectively.'
Impact of New Evaluation Methods
Regarding the overall decline in the pass percentage, Thakur mentioned that the increased emphasis on competency-based and conceptual questions likely affected students with weaker conceptual understanding. He explained, 'Questions are no longer purely theoretical, which students could memorize for exams. Now, students must comprehend the questions, respond based on concepts, and adopt a problem-solving approach.' Jyoti Arora, principal of Mount Abu School, remarked that the board appears to be shifting from rote learning to assessments focused on conceptual understanding and application.
Factors Contributing to the Decline
Arora noted that several students achieved perfect scores in various subjects. She believes that the slight decline could stem from multiple factors, including the competency-based evaluation system implemented by CBSE in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) recommendations. She added that there has been a slight change in the evaluation pattern, which has become more efficiency and application-oriented. However, she pointed out that results in physics and mathematics were disappointing. Regarding the OSM system, she mentioned that it provided clear evaluation guidelines, stating, 'The OSM-based examination system was well-organized.'
Concerns Over Subject Performance
Additionally, CBSE's inclination towards competency and application-based assessments was evident. However, she also mentioned that this year's question paper was relatively easier compared to previous years. On the increase in compartment cases, she noted that the poor performance in mathematics and physics contributed to this trend, while many students excelled in skill-based subjects like painting and vocational arts. Tania Joshi, principal of The Indian School, reported that her school performed well, with average scores improving in several subjects.
Standardized Online Evaluation Process
Joshi stated, 'The online evaluation process was more standardized and scientific, leaving no room for awarding extra marks as the system did not allow it.' However, she acknowledged that there was a decline in scores for physics and mathematics, while subjects like chemistry, history, and political science showed improvement. Regarding requests for re-evaluation, Joshi mentioned that many students are seeking guidance from the school about the process. She added, 'This happens every year, but this time we observed a decline in mathematics and physics results.'
Conclusion on Evaluation Changes
She dismissed suggestions that the evaluation process was overly strict, asserting that the examination process was conducted in a highly organized and scientific manner. With girls once again outperforming boys, Joshi noted that this trend was also evident in her school. Earlier, School Education Secretary Sanjay Kumar stated that the changes in the evaluation scheme naturally reflected in the results. He remarked, 'This year, there is some variation in the percentage of marks, but that is expected as the evaluation scheme was altered, which is evident in the results.'