The CBSE Chairman Speaks…
 
By Vinod Nedumudy
 
Kochi, Jan 09 , 2010 : The gentleman sports a grin as he fields uncomfortable questions or just shies away from directly answering them. Friendly and down to earth, Central Board of Secondary Education Chairman-cum-Secretary Vineet Joshi IAS, is keen to take the reforms initiated by the new government to every doorstep from where a child follows the CBSE curriculum. He was in Kochi the other day as part of the initiative to quell the doubts of parents in the state on the reforms and the parents were a much-relieved lot after interacting with the Chairman. Joshi too was happy as he could dispel the doubts in so many minds in one sitting. Mathrubhumi Education caught up with him at Assissi Vidyanikethan Public School, Kakkanad, where the Chairman interacted with the parents for a full day and he was all too willing to debate a few important issues. Excerpts.
 
Q: The CBSE is introducing Grading and Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) from this year in Class IX and in Class X from the next academic year. Has the CBSE put any timeframe for introducing these and other reforms in Class XI and Class XII?
 
A: The CBSE at present is concentrating on the secondary level up to Class X. Since there are a lot of apprehensions over the reforms, we are trying to allay all of them. We haven’t thought of introducing these reforms at the senior secondary level. Class XI and Class XII are very important classes that deserve special treatment. The entry to professional courses takes place from here. So we have to be very careful while introducing reforms here. A Committee is now studying how to introduce reforms in these two classes. Only after the committee submits its report, we will decide on initiating reforms there.
 
Q: So are you a member of this committee?
 
A: No. I am not a member of that committee. It is an external committee. The committee has not been given any deadline to submit its report.
 
Q. Grading and CCE are being implemented from this year by the CBSE. Will the mark sheet of Class XII students carry separate marks for internal and external exams? Committees like the Entrance Reforms Committee in Kerala are talking about it?
 
A: We are not proposing any changes in the pattern of Class XII. The reforms for the time being will stop with Class X. It is too early to talk about Class XII.
 
Q. What about dispensing with the Class X Board Exam? When it is implemented how many schools will be out of its ambit - which means the schools that do not have Class XII at present.
 
A: Altogether there are 8,500 schools that conduct secondary school exam (Class X) now. Countrywide approximately over 8 lakh students appear for the Class X exam now. When the Class X exam is withdrawn in senior secondary schools in 2010-11, nearly 5 to 6.5 lakh students will not be taking the Class X board exam. The rest in the secondary schools will take the exam.
 
Q: Are you holding additional charge of CBSE Chairman besides that of Secretary or has this Government regularized you as Chairman?
 
A: (Smiles!) I didn’t have time to check these facts. I am not much worried either.
 
Q: Is there any plan for a single medical entrance for the entire nation on the lines of the AIEEE?
 
A: In fact currently we conduct the AIPMT for admission to 15 per cent of the medical seats all over the country following the Supreme Court directive. We have no powers to decide on matters like holding an all-India test for medical seats on the lines of AIEEE. We can introduce only if we are asked to do so. I understand that the Medical Council of India is thinking of introducing such an examination.
 
Q: What about granting CBSE affiliation to new schools that have applied for the same from Kerala and other states?
 
A : The Kerala or any other State Government has to first give the No-Objection Certificate for new CBSE schools, then only the CBSE can grant affiliation to those schools. The CBSE has completed its assessment in the case of several schools in Kerala and the State Government nod in this regard is the only hurdle in the affiliation process to complete. Within the federal setup of the country we are doing whatever we can to let CBSE schools come up.
 
Q : Can’t you give temporary affiliation to the schools where you have conducted your inspection and assessment?
 
A: We have no such powers to give temporary affiliation.
 
Q : Have you been able to allay the fears of parents over the reforms being introduced now at the secondary level?
 
A : The CCE and grading system would considerably reduce anxiety and stress in children, with competition giving way to cooperation. It will not dilute the strength of the curriculum in any way. The conventional examination system currently followed across the country has a lot of limitations in assessing the skills of each child.
 
At the session with the parents in Kochi Vineet Joshi pointed his finger at the future and asked parents to be aware of future needs.

“The 21st century job market would be very different from that of the previous century. We will have to compete with foreigners even within the country. For this, by-rote learning, memorisation and the obsession for text books and ranks must go,” he said.

He said CCE has been devised to help children work together as a team, rather than compete with each other. The emphasis is on execution of group tasks. There will be enough motivation for high achievers. In the new scheme students are being prepared for the changes taking place in society, he said.