Class 10 retest
In Panchkula, it was 84.77 this year compared to last year’s 99.18. In Patna region, which parts of Jharkhand fall under, the pass percentage was 73.55 compared to last year’s 98.93, he added. The analysis was based on a review of 1,000 answer sheets from the three regions to find a trend.
Though last year the board exam was not mandatory, more students opted for them instead of the school-based exam, making the comparison valid, officials said. Amid apprehension that there would be greater number of students scoring 90% and above due to the leak, it was found that this number has also come down.
For instance, in Delhi region 8.3% of students scored 90% and above, which in the evaluated copies this time is down to 7.9%. Similarly, in Patna region, which includes Jharkhand; it is down from 24.06% in 2017 to 7.5% in 2018. In Panchkula region i.e. Harayana, it is down from 19.14% to 18.54%
“We will still carry out a detailed analysis and examine all the copies with last year’s result to see if there are centres which show unusual trends and action will definitely be taken against them,” said a CBSE official. “Action will be taken against students if there is evidence that they were direct beneficiaries of the leak.”
The government has constituted a high-powered committee, comprising experts, under chairmanship of V S Oberoi, former (higher education secretary), MHRD. “…to examine the process of conduct of CBSE exams and suggest measures to make it secure and foolproof through the use of technology,” Swarup tweeted. A report will be submitted by May 31.
The board said in a statement on Tuesday that it had not found sudden spikes or unusual patterns in random evaluation of Class 10 math answer sheets.
It added that the Class 10 exam is largely an internal segment of the school education system whereas the Class 12 exam is a gateway to higher education and professional exams which have limited seats. “…institutes of higher education are likely to have reservation against this batch of students regarding Economics results, not only in India but also in foreign institutions. Therefore giving undue advantage to a handful of beneficiaries of the alleged leak would not be in the larger academic interest of the students,” the statement said.
The decision was welcomed by students. Aparajita Bahadur of Springdales School in Delhi’s Pusa Road, said, “I am happy that CBSE has decided to not conduct the retest. It was putting undue pressure on us. First we had to go through preparing for the subject again and then wait till July to give the exam.”