Will the grade system ward off students' worries?

Is everyone on board with HRD Minister Kapil Sibal's new proposal, to make class 10 board exams in CBSE optional?

What made a girl with 92 per cent marks in her class 12th CBSE examination jump off her balcony - it's performance stress like this that the educationists have been warning against.

Now, at least for some this worry will ease after HRD Minister Kapil Sibal's proposals to do away with class 10th board examinations from next year have been welcomed by most.

"The only purpose of life had become to get one more mark than the other," said father of one student.

But after the initial euphoria there are still a few concerns - the grading system which will come into effect by the end of this year is intended to make the exam system less competitive. But some teachers have reservations.

"How do we allot a stream to children after class 10? If a child gets A, should he get science and the child who gets D should he get Arts? asked Sujata Lakhani, Principal, Billabong High International school, Bhopal.

Also as per the current proposal by the HRD:

• Although all CBSE schools across the country will make class 10th board exams optional, there is a rider: this will be applicable only for schools which have classes till 12th
• What then happens to CBSE schools that have classes only till 10th?
• So far, the proposal does not include the state boards
• What about children who after clearing their 10th have to change to a state board?

"The states have been misinformed, there are technicalities and we are explaining to them how it will work," said Kapil Sibal, HRD Minister.

The biggest worry right now is that without consensus, the proposal could complicate the very objective behind bringing these changes.

But for now parents are relieved that their children now have a chance to study and also enjoy it.