University campuses are typically buzzing with energy, but as February and March approach, they take on a worn, quiet atmosphere. Students often retreat to their rooms, libraries, or study spaces, preparing for their upcoming exams.
In India, the Board Examinations—specifically the 10th and 12th-grade exams—are often seen as the most stressful events in a student’s life. I still struggle to understand why these two exams cause so much anxiety, especially now that entrance exams for professional courses, like NEET and JEE, hold more weight than the 12th-grade marks. In the past, 12th-grade board results were crucial for determining one’s future career. For fields like medicine or engineering, students needed to secure high marks—often 90% or more. These board marks were seen as an indicator of intelligence. However, today, even students with 50-55% in board exams can excel in entrance exams like NEET or JEE, showing how the competitive nature of these national tests has far surpassed the significance of board exams.
As an academician, I sometimes question whether entrance exams are the best way to evaluate students, or if we should consider board exams or continuous assessments instead. Personally, I believe continuous assessments offer the most accurate measure of a student’s abilities. At Symbiosis, we implemented this long before the NEP 2020 even introduced it to colleges. For programs like Liberal Arts, Engineering, Management, and Law, we assess students’ capabilities through continuous evaluation, including gamification, presentations, seminars, and class discussions. Intelligence is measured by participation and performance, not just one final exam at the end of the semester. Our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, has also initiated talks such as ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha,’ to understand and alleviate the difficulties faced by students.
With the introduction of the NEP, the 10th and 12th-grade exams have become less significant. The transition from the 10+2 system to the 5+3+3+4 structure, where the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades are grouped together, has diminished the pressure and anxiety traditionally associated with the 10th-grade exams. This shift is a positive change. It allows students to enjoy their transition from school to higher education and make career decisions based on their interests, rather than their marks. Parents should not impose their unfulfilled desires on their children or dictate their career paths. Students should have the freedom to choose their own direction and, if needed, change it later. After all, the ultimate goal of education is to cultivate empowered minds that will lead the future.