While the initiative of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to make the class 10 board exam optional has not really made many students opt out, some have stayed away from the year-end exercise.
In Karnataka, the number of students writing the Class X board exams in 2011 has decreased by nearly 10 percent. While 14,329 students wrote the exam in 2010, the number has decreased by 1,242 students to 13,087 this year.
Nationwide, however, the trend has reversed. In 2011, as many as 10,61,566 students are taking the exam whereas only 9,02,517 students had written the test in 2010. So, why hasn't the trend in Karnataka kept pace with the national figures?
Records not kept
Nagaraju N, CBSE South Zone Director, is unsure how many students have opted out of the exam in the State this year. According to him, the Board has not kept the records of students who have given the exam a miss, after a decision to make it optional was taken in 2009. The total number of Class 10 students in 210 schools affiliated to CBSE across the State is also not known.
But those who have opted out apparently don't regret the decision. "I opted out of the exam because I felt writing it was too taxing. Initially, I was dithering and thought of going back. But thankfully I stayed on and now don't lament it," says a student of the National Public School, Rajajinagar.
The Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE), a school-based system introduced by the CBSE in place of the board exam, was a boon for students like him. Under it, all aspects of a student's development are covered.
Self-evaluation
Continuous evaluation refers to regular assessments, frequency of unit testing, analysis of learning gaps, applying corrective measures, retesting and giving feedback to teachers and students for their self-evaluation.
Comprehensive assessment means testing the scholastic and co-scholastic aspects of a student's growth and development. Both aspects are evaluated through Formative and Summative Assessments.
However, Navin (named changed on request), another Class X student, is not too happy with his decision to opt out. But the initiative is well intentioned, he says. “I am concerned about how to seek admission to Class XI, under a non-CBSE board," he said.