CBSE to modify examination pattern for class 10th & 12th to boost creative, critical & analytical thinking among students: Secretary
Schools must implement adaptive & project-based learning and follow children-centric methodology in the classroom: Director (Training & Skill Education), CBSE
With a view to boost creative, critical and analytical thinking among students, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) would introduce major changes in the pattern of question papers for class tenth and twelfth by 2023, a top board official said at an ASSOCHAM event held in New Delhi on Tuesday.
“While this year with students of class 10 will get 20 per cent objective questions and ten per cent questions would be based on creative thinking, by 2023 question papers for classes tenth and twelfth will be based on creative, innovative and critical thinking and students will have to prepare in that manner, it is the need of the hour keeping in mind country's future,” said Anurag Tripathi, Secretary, CBSE.
He said that vocational subjects do not find many takers in India due to factors like lack of employability, poor value and absence of stability in the market.
The Secretary also said that there is a need to promote proper linkages and bonding among key stakeholders in the schooling system i.e. infrastructure, teachers, parents and students.
He suggested that schools must devote more time to teachers who need to be trained rigorously and be groomed for three to six months to become mentors, highly motivated communicator, expressive, have critical thinking and emotional balance.
Talking about the new education policy, he said that it aims at bridging the gap between vocational and main subjects. “The new policy has recommended that vocational subjects need to be a part of the five subjects, it would be a good move.”
He further said that the new education policy also focuses on different aspects like early childhood care, teacher training, promoting vocational education and thus, it would be a challenge to implement the same.
Earlier, in his address at the ASSOCHAM summit, Director (Training and Skill Education) CBSE, Dr Biswajit Saha had said that schools in India need to focus on students’ capability and not employability, implement adaptive & project-based learning and follow children-centric methodology in the classroom.
“The flexibility in the system should be adapted in the curriculum transaction process to keep students' mind-set and what they need in mind. With respect to the common curriculum, whatever subjects are being offered, the room is very much there to introduce activity-based curriculum,” he said.
Dr Saha added, “If we want to really upgrade the system, then competency-based education needs to be implemented in the school systems which requires strong connect with the child.”
He suggested that schools must give free semesters to students between class I to VIII and should not block them within curriculum boundaries. “It would lead to more outcomes; career orientations will rightly groom up by putting the students with concept of free semesters. If you are ready to experiment with the lower class, may be with class III or IV, with no curriculum load, I think over a period of time they will look into different dynamics of life and national education policy would be highlighting that agenda differently.”
He also clarified that CBSE is not touching primary education and complete autonomy is given to government and private schools be it with regards to syllabus or textual material. “CBSE only comes into the picture only for class 10th and 12th examinations, there we strictly prescribe the syllabus for the examination but not the methodology.”
