NO EXAMINATION FOR PLUS TWO IN 2021-- SOME ISSUES

Pandemic situation brought about serious disruption to normal functioning of schools and colleges. Pressure was mounted to cancel the all important final examination of Plus 2. Government of India decided for cancellation and Odisha too went the same way. Modalities were worked out to finalise results in the absence of examination. Odisha decision to base the plus 2 results broadly on the results of the Class X examination of the student prompts me to write a few words on the subject. This decision is quite different from the one decided by CBSE where weightage of 30%, 30% and 40% was given respectively for Class X; Class XI and Pre Board exam of Class XII examination. In Odisha while about 4,21,000 students passed the Class X examination in 2020, only 2,34,000 passed the Class XII examination of the Board. Science students accounted for only 68,000; Commerce students only 18,500 and Arts students were 1,48,000. This is the broad picture of the secondary school education at present. The important point to note is the quality and regularity of evaluation of the students between Class X and XII. It seems there was little between after a student joined the Higher Secondary Stage and the Class XII examination. Schools and Junior Colleges have to have a regular evaluation system and evaluation results must be sent regularly to the Board. I think CBSE adopts such a system. Why Odisha doesn't, isn't clear. Weightage of these periodical evaluation need to get reflected in the final examination performance. This year's decision revealed a serious gap in the prevailing system and I hope the issue would be addressed. What happens if for some reason the Class X examination wasn't held. Would we have to evaluate a student on the basis of the Matriculation score of the student's parents? Hopefully not. After secondary education one goes for higher education and Odia medium students should get reasonable share of seats in renowned professional colleges. This crucial stage of their education seems in much greater need of attention today. *********