‘You ruined my career’: Students hit back at CBSE over 'abrupt' removal of additional subjects

The latest announcement by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) making 75% attendance, two-year study, and internal assessments mandatory for both Classes 10 and 12 has triggered outrage among students and parents.

Limiting the options for private students, the board recently removed additional subjects. This move has also been criticised by students as “abrupt” and “unfair” for droppers, students opting for home schooling, and those preparing other than the school system.

The CBSE Class 10, 12 are two year programmes comprising Class 9 and 10 and Class 11 and 12. And the shift in policy introduced by the CBSE Board is in line with the National Education Policy, it said.

“It is a 2 year long process. If a student does not attend school, his/her internal assessment cannot be done. In the absence of performance in internal assessment, a student's result cannot be declared. Such students even if they are regular students will be placed in the Essential Repeat Category",” the latest notification read.

CBSE's new rules for additional subjects

CBSE students can opt for additional subjects in Class 10 and 12. In Class 10, students can choose two subjects in addition to five compulsory subjects, and one additional subject in Class 12.

Students opting for additional subjects will study the additional subject for 2 years, it said.

Only schools having CBSE’s approval will be allowed to offer additional subjects. Regular students who failed in the additional subjects in the previous years will be eligible to appear in the compartment of essential repeat subjects as private candidates. The option for additional subjects will not be available for fresh candidates.

Students and parents echoed the same concerns about the abrupt policy change. Slamming the board for double-standards, the user said till last academic year, you (CBSE) said sudden change “will abruptly change the life of thousands of students”.

“Why don’t you inform students prior to the policy change? Please make such announcements before the start of an academic year,” the user appealed.

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Students slam last-minute changes

Abhi wrote on X: “This is so bad.... It will create more mediocre than Madarsa. Why Force attendance? What about those who are home schooled? Can your teachers teach better than Nuclear Scientist parents?

“Your syllabus are made for 100 iq Teenagers, not for 180 iq or 80 iq. Why fit them all in one shoes? Does your certificate Guarantee that a kid will even get a blue collar job worth 1 lakh a year? Or will he be able to do basic household chores, like making their bed?” he wrote.

Opposing the last-minute changes in the CBSE Class 10 and 12 board exam, another user on X: “CBSE wasted another year of ours by introducing changes after the new academic session had already started. These changes should have been told to us before April/May, then we would have taken admission in any other college instead of wasting our 2nd drop year. Have some shame.”

75% attendance 'unfair'

Expressing disappointment on mandatory 75% attendance and internal assessment, a social media user wrote” Unjust! Many students study brilliantly from home. This discriminates against them. Let learning flexibility prevail!”

“Please review the order, the students attending the sports events organised by various institutes should be exempted from attendance percentage. In the policy, the students who qualify to participate in National/International sports events may be given extra waitage marks,” Satishwar Rai said on X.

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Droppers, private students left in limbo

“What about double droppers who wish to clear RT from their main subject. Through 'additional category' they have their last chance but you ruined the future of many students. Please reconsider your decision,” Sachin Kumar, with X name, Victim of CBSE wrote.

“You ruined my life and my career. You should have informed us about this in May or April so we would not have taken a drop for additional exams in private candidates. Now what will we do? No college is accepting admissions anymore and no college accepts NIOS single marksheet. Shame.” another said.

“Please first implement it in Kota which is full of dummy schools. ???? Also can you guarantee that if someone only attends school he or she won’t need any private tuition?” sarcastically said a student.

Another highlighted the prevailing confusion whether calculators will be allowed for Class 12 accountancy exam.