The government is considering the possibility of giving students two levels of difficulty for the additional language—basic and standard—as the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) gets ready to align the school curriculum with the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020, which includes a move from studying one language to two in Class 12.
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 suggested substantial modifications to the school curriculum to meet NEP-2020 recommendations. Increasing the total number of languages studied—from two to three in Class 10 and from one to two in Class 12—is one of the suggested modifications. The suggestion states that two out of the three languages taught in Class 10 and one out of the two languages taught in Class 12 should be local to India.
To discuss how the above plan should be implemented, a national consultation including all CBSE schools will be held. Options for implementation include adding more languages or dividing the idea into two difficulty levels. That apart, the schedule of introducing two Boards exams, as per the recommendations of NEP-2020, 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.
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