- It used to be fun-filled and less pressure-filled times when we were studying in Grade 12, maybe a generation back, eagerly waiting for the results to be declared without worrying too about the academic year coming to an end. Remember, anyone scoring above 70% used to be bracketed as having achieved a distinction, and those scoring in the range of above 80% and/or 90% used to be considered as no less than a genius. Mind you, students succeeding in scoring perfect centum in some of the toughest subjects like Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies were treated as no less than an Einstein or a Newton.
PC: Anum Ansari
- Thus, getting admissions to colleges after the board exams was a breeze without any of the incomprehensible paraphernalia associated as can be witnessed now. Fast-forward to the present scenario will leave many of us befuddled and confused for the cut-off percentages set by some of the prestigious colleges and educational institutes are impossible to breach for ordinary students like me. Can you believe some colleges have set 100% cut-off marks to gain admissions? And the pandemic induced online teachings and examinations have ensured even a not so bright student is well within his/her reach to score a perfect 100% marks in school exams. A classic case of a skewed education system pervading around us.
- Needless to mention, when such an entry to college courses takes place via marks around 100% scored in school exams, this is both a result of several distortions and a creator of new distortions. Whatever way you might wish to term as any distortion will fit in here. As reported, this year at Delhi University even as the first-list cutoff of 100% spread to 10 undergraduate courses, so did controversy about how Kerala board students had an unfair edge over students of CBSE and other state boards, which had been less liberal in handing out dollops of scores. Make no mistake, other boards will only up Kerala’s ante next year, as long as the system outright incentivizes runaway grade inflation.
PC: Aranya Shankar
- In another instance, the University of Mumbai has also experienced both 100% cutoffs and anxieties that Maharashtra board students are at a disadvantage because of unrealistic percentage competition from other boards. While such cut-throat competition in part reflects a poor supply of good higher-education options, surely there should be a better way of judging desperate competitors than various school boards throwing marks about like sacks of vegetables. Against this backdrop, signs that UGC will implement a common entrance test (CET) for all central universities beginning next year, with state and private universities also having the option to join in, are most welcome.
- Note that CET will be conducted by the National Testing Agency, which oversees JEE and NEET exams. The proposed multiple-choice, computer-based exam will likely have one general aptitude test to gauge language proficiency, numerical ability, etc., and a second subject-specific test for assessing domain knowledge. Critics are already out questioning how such a centrally set paper would be fair to children from diverse regions and socio-economic backgrounds. Of course, the way forward is to adopt and fine-tune solutions, instead of passively letting the situation worsen every year. On their part, the schools must return to improving learning outcomes for real rather than just fronting marksheets.
