2 difficulty levels for additional language in CBSE Class 12 under Govt consideration

AS THE Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) prepares to align the school curriculum with the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020, including a shift from studying one language to two in Class 12, the government is considering offering students two levels of difficulty for the additional language — basic and standard.

The two levels of difficulty offered could mirror the options available for mathematics in Class 10, where standard-level assesses higher mathematical abilities and the basic-level is easier. The latter is designed for students who do not wish to pursue mathematics beyond Class 10.

Sources indicate that this measure is being considered to ensure that Class 12 students are not adversely affected by poor performance in the additional language. This proposal is expected to be discussed at a meeting of all Cbse-affiliated schools that the Board is likely to call after April 15, the source added.

The Indian Express reported on February 1 that the CBSE has proposed significant changes to the school curriculum to implement suggestions contained in NEP-2020. Among the proposed changes is an increase in the total number of languages studied: from two to three in Class 10 and from one to two in Class 12. According to the proposal, at least two of the three languages in Class 10 should be native to India, and in Class 12, at least one of the two languages should be native.

The national consultation of all CBSE schools will be called to deliberate how the above proposal should be implemented, and the two difficulty levels or the additional languages are among the options on the table. That apart, the schedule of introducing two Boards exams, as per the recommendations of NEP2020, will also be discussed at this meeting, sources said.

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had announced earlier this year that students of Classes 10 and 12 will have the opportunity to take the Board exam twice to lessen burden and give them a chance at improvement. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji's vision through the NEP is to keep students stress-free, enrich them with quality education, keep students linked with culture and prepare them for the future. This is the formula for making India a developed country by 2047,” Pradhan had said.

“The timing of the two Board exams is a sticking point. Currently, it is held in February and results are out by May. In order to hold another exam, we have to be mindful that the result of the second exam is announced before admission to higher education institutions starts. This will have to be discussed at the meeting too,” the source added.