Latest news with #CBSE
Indian Express
6 hours ago
- General
- Indian Express
CBSE's mother tongue push leaves private schools in a bind — Kendriya Vidyalayas may show the way forward
A recent CBSE circular directing schools to introduce mother tongue instruction in primary classes has left institutions in metro cities like Delhi and Mumbai — which serve mobile, multilingual populations — in a bind. But a proposal under consideration for Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs), run by the Centre, may offer a way forward, officials told The Indian Express. In a circular issued to all its affiliated schools last month, the CBSE asked them to map students' mother tongues and stated that, from pre-primary to Class 2, teaching should be in the child's mother tongue or a familiar regional language. It also directed schools to realign their curriculum and teaching materials by the end of the summer break, with implementation to begin in July. Over 30,000 schools are affiliated with the CBSE. Kendriya Vidyalayas or KVs — 1,256 centrally run schools with around 13.56 lakh students — are also affiliated with the CBSE and primarily serve children of central government employees who are frequently transferred, including defence personnel and public sector employees. As a result, these schools have students from a wide range of linguistic backgrounds, a CBSE official pointed out. To implement the directive, the KVs are considering splitting classes into different sections based on the medium of instruction. For instance, in a KV located in Maharashtra, where Hindi and Marathi are the predominant languages, teaching could be conducted in separate sections according to language preference. Currently, the medium of instruction in KVs is bilingual — Hindi and English. In addition, English and Hindi are taught as subjects in the primary classes, while Hindi, English, and Sanskrit are subjects from Classes 6 to 8. This means that the sanctioned posts for language teachers in KVs are for Hindi, English, and Sanskrit. To enable teaching in the mother tongue, teachers will need to be allocated based on the findings of the language mapping exercise. A senior official in the Ministry of Education said that KVs already have a provision to arrange instruction in the regional language or mother tongue if at least 15 students in a class opt for it. Acknowledging that implementation may be particularly challenging in schools outside predominantly Hindi-speaking regions, a senior official in the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) said the first step would be to conduct a language mapping exercise and seek parental consent. Depending on requirements, contractual teachers may be appointed. In schools with multiple sections, it may be possible to offer instruction in one language in one section and a different language in another, the official said. CBSE officials noted that 200–300 schools, especially in metropolitan areas like Delhi and Mumbai, are likely to face difficulties due to the presence of multiple languages in a single classroom. In such cases, schools may have to divide students into sections based on language preference. Schools may also opt to teach in the local or regional language, the official added. At the primary level, students in Classes 1 and 2 are taught two languages and mathematics. With the new circular in place, mathematics will also need to be taught in the mother tongue or a familiar regional language. 'The schools will have to develop a system that works for them. We've told them that if they need more time, they can formulate a strategy and inform us,' the official said. The circular also acknowledged that some schools may need more time to transition and stated that additional time would be provided to ensure adequate resources, appropriate teacher deployment, and curriculum adjustments. For Classes 3 to 5, the circular stated that students may continue to learn in their mother tongue or a familiar regional language (R1), or be offered the option to study in a different medium (R2). In effect, this means that schools may begin English-medium instruction from Class 3 onwards, a CBSE official confirmed. The CBSE's push for mother tongue instruction aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023, both of which recommend the use of the home language as the primary medium of instruction until at least the age of 8. The NCFSE states: 'Since children learn concepts most rapidly and deeply in their home language, the primary medium of instruction would optimally be the child's home language/ mother tongue/ familiar language.'
Indian Express
11 hours ago
- Science
- Indian Express
Class XII board exam data for 2024 show science is no longer a boys' club
Data on 2024 Class XII board exams, released by the Ministry of Education, tell a story of quiet persistence: For the first time in a decade, more girls — 28.14 lakh — cleared the board exams in the science stream than in humanities — 27.24 lakh. These figures mark a powerful shift in academic and social dynamics. As an analysis of numbers from 25 school boards between 2010 and 2023 by this newspaper in September 2024 showed, only 38.2 per cent of students clearing science in 2010 were girls. By 2023, that number had climbed to 45.5 per cent, setting the stage for the 2024 breakthrough. The reversal of the long-standing gender tilt toward humanities is an affirmation that science — once seen as a male preserve — is being actively pursued by female students across the country. In a country aspiring to be a global leader in the knowledge economy, this is welcome news: Drawing on the scientific potential of half its population is not just desirable, it is essential. State-level results underscore the national picture. In Tamil Nadu, girls achieved a formidable 96.35 per cent science pass rate in 2024; in Jharkhand, Bihar and Odisha, girls outperformed boys. This reshaping of ambition and possibility has been facilitated by growing parental encouragement and good-faith policy interventions such as the Vigyan Jyoti scholarship schemes for girls from disadvantaged backgrounds, and the CBSE's Udaan initiative, that helps underprivileged girls prepare for engineering and medical entrance exams through mentoring and financial aid. What happens when more girls enter higher education in STEM? According to the All India Survey on Higher Education 2021-22, women now make up 52.1 per cent of all students in science disciplines across undergraduate, postgraduate, MPhil, and PhD levels. At the undergraduate level, they constitute a little over 51 per cent of the total enrolment. In medicine, women are at par with men; in engineering and technology — fields where they have traditionally been a sliver — their representation has risen considerably. These numbers point to a future workforce that is likely to be more diverse, representative, and arguably, more innovative. The promise of these numbers, however, will continue to come up against the shadow of unequal realities unless it is met with deeper investment in infrastructure, mentorship networks, employment opportunities and safe spaces to learn and to linger in. Girls from rural areas and low-income households still face immense barriers that cap their ambitions: Lack of resources; unavailability of laboratories and equipment; a private study space, or simply, the right to stay in school. If this moment is to make room for long-term change, it must ensure that STEM dreams that have gotten off the block are not stalled midway.
The Hindu
20 hours ago
- General
- The Hindu
Hindi, English most preferred medium of instruction languages for Class 10 and 12 board exams
A majority of students appearing in Class 10 and 12 board exams preferred Hindi as a medium of instruction, followed by English, an analysis conducted by the Ministry of Education (MoE) pointed out. As compared to Hindi and English, students opting for 16 regional languages as medium of instruction — Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Odia, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Assamese, Punjabi, Malayalam, Bodo, Sanskrit, Nepali, Santhali and Manipuri — ranged in single digits from 0.9% to 6.1%. Also Read | Following outrage, CBSE reinstates Kannada, others, on list of regional languages in draft policy The analysis includes a total of 1,85,26,013 students who appeared for Class 10, and 1,49,24,580 students who appeared for Class 12 board exams in 2024. While on average 88% of all Class 10 students who appeared for the board exams passed, for medium of instructions like Gujarati, Kannada, Telugu and Assamese, the pass percentage of students is lower than the national average, officials point out. 'Only 82.7% students who appeared for Class 10 exams in Gujarati passed, while only 75.4% of those who appeared in Kannada passed. Both in Telugu and Assamese, 79.8% of students who appeared passed. This is lower than the national pass percentage of 88%,' a senior MoE official said. Meanwhile, the pass percentage for students studying in the Malayalam medium was 99.9%, much higher than the national average; so it was for Odia - 98%, and Manipuri and Punjabi - 96.2%. Similarly, officials have expressed concern about the low pass percentage of Class 12 students with Telugu as a medium of instruction. 'While 86.5% of 1,49,24,580 students who appeared for Class 12 passed, among these only 61.7% of 1,06,936 students who appeared from Telugu medium passed,' the senior MoE official said. Meanwhile, ranging between 90.5% to 92.3%, students studying in Tamil, Nepali, Punjabi and Manipuri had a much higher pass percentage than the national average of 86.5%, officials said. Interestingly, while the pass percentage of Gujarati medium students was lower than the national average for Class 10, it was at 92.6% for Class 12, which is higher than national average. Data analysed by MoE also suggested that a majority of students, an average of up to 39.3% belonging to government, government-aided aided and private schools, opted for Hindi as a medium of instruction when appearing for Class 10 and 12 board exams. While fewer students (31.4%) opted for English as a primary language for medium of instruction in Class 10, more students — 38.6% — picked English for Class 12. Many State Boards follow regional language as the medium of instruction till Class 10 and switch over to English in Class 12. 'For instance, if a student studies in Kannada medium till Class 10 and enrols in English in Class 12, s/he will have great difficulty in comprehending and adjusting to a new language. This also leads to a lower pass percentage in Class 12,' another senior MoE official explained. Officials said that in order to remove disparity between differences in pass percentage among various boards, there needed to be an emphasis on standardising assessment processes, curriculum, paper setting, and exam spans. 'These findings also create a strong case for curriculum and assessment equivalence across boards with different languages as a medium of instruction,' they said. The Ministry of Education was grappling with the issue of retaining around 26.6 lakh Class 10 students in the formal school education system, of which 4.43 lakh did not appear for exams, and another 22.17 lakh failed and thus were unable to progress to Class 11 in 2024. 'Class 10 failure is one of the causes for low retention rate and Gross Enrolment Ratio at higher secondary levels,' the senior official pointed out. Similarly, of the 24.76 lakh Class 12 students, 4.6 lakh not appearing for the exams, and another 20.16 lakh failing are a cause of concern for the MoE.
Daily Tribune
a day ago
- Science
- Daily Tribune
Bhavans – BIS honours academic excellence, felicitates class 10 & 12 toppers
Bhavans-Bahrain Indian School (BIS) hosted its Annual Award Ceremony on Sunday, to honour the exceptional performance of the CBSE Class 10 and Class 12 toppers for the academic year 2024–25. The ceremony held in the school auditorium brought together the entire school community to recognise and applaud the young scholars. This special event was organised to honour the top-performing students of AISSE (Grade 10) and AISSCE (Grade 12) CBSE Board Examinations, who had achieved remarkable results. They were presented with certificates of achievement and memento. School Directors Himanshu Verma and Ritu Verma, Principal Saji Jacob commended the toppers. In the Science stream, Evan Binson John secured the first position with an impressive overall score of 95.8%, followed closely by Adesh Deepthi Shaiju, who earned the second position with 95.4%. Evan also emerged as a subject topper in several subjects, scoring 99 in Chemistry and Mathematics, 96 in Computer Science, and 95 in Physics. Adesh Deepthi Shaiju stood out with 99 in Biology and 95 in English. In the Commerce stream, Nivedya Babu secured the first position with a stellar 95.6% and emerged as a subject topper in Economics (98), Business Studies (99), English (95) and Accountancy (95). Her performance was a highlight of the Commerce department's success. Natalia Manoojin Richards also made a mark in the stream by achieving 90% in Marketing. The achievements of the Grade 10 students were equally commendable. Pritha Singh stood first with a remarkable 97.4%, followed by Sriya Anish Pulinamparambil in second place with 97.2%, and Manjira Goswami in third place with 96.2%. Preetham Reddy Nagula (Mathematics), Vismita Rajesh Iyer (French), and Pritha Singh (English) distinguished themselves by securing a perfect score of 100 marks in their respective subjects. Pritha Singh also topped in Hindi, and Science, while Sriya Anish Pulinamparambil topped in Hindi and Science as well. Other subject toppers included Pahal Poojaben Mehta (Sanskrit), Manveeth Praveen Urwa (Science, Social Science), and Harshavardhan Chellaraja (Science).
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Three-language row: MNS defaces Hindi textbooks at Balbharti; Sena (UBT), AAP oppose policy
Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers tore Hindi textbooks and defaced them with ink at Maharashtra state publisher Balbharti's building on Wednesday to protest against the three-language policy in primary education. The Shiv Sena (UBT) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) units in Pune also put out statements against the policy. A Government Resolution (GR) issued June 17 by the state government amended a previous GR that made Hindi the compulsory third-language in the state board for classes 1 to 5. According to the new amendment, students can choose Hindi or any other Indian language as their third-language as well. However, political parties and literary organisations like the Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad have expressed their opposition to this policy, saying that it introduces Hindi as a compulsory subject in a backhanded way. Protesting at Balbharti, MNS city president Dhananjay Dalvi said, 'This is an anti-Marathi move by the Maharashtra government and we can't accept it. The government is lying that it has not made Hindi compulsory. If you go to schools, this Hindi textbook by Balbharti is being published and distributed among students. The students are being taught Hindi. We will not let any Hindi textbooks published at Balbharti be distributed among students.' MNS workers raised slogans against the Maharashtra government and 'Hindi imposition' at the entrance of the Balbharti building. After marching towards the printing house, they shredded Hindi language textbooks of Balbharti and defaced them with black ink. Also opposing the three-language formula, Kalpesh Yadav, joint secretary of the UBT's Youth Sena, said, 'Why is the Mahayuti government so obsessed with Hindi? The Education Minister has announced the implementation of the CBSE pattern in Maharashtra. But it is clear that he has not understood CBSE's language policy… now the Education Department has issued an ordinance that students can take Hindi if they want to learn it.' He remarked, 'If the number of students who want to take other subjects instead of Hindi is 20, a teacher will be provided for teaching or the relevant language will be taught online… This is misleading and an attempt is being made to impose Hindi on Marathi people. I publicly condemn this ordinance of the government. Also, CBSE gives only two language options. Still, why insist on Hindi? If more than 20 children want to learn Marathi, will it be taught in Baroda, Indore and some other cities? Hindi lover Education Minister Dada Bhuse should answer.' Mukund Kirdat, spokesperson for the AAP said, 'Since the beginning, the Aam Aadmi Party has strongly demanded that the three-language formula should not be implemented from Class 1. But even after that, the order to teach three languages has been issued from Class 1 and Hindi will have to be accepted by Marathi people… Although it is necessary to adopt the three-language formula as per the new education policy, there is no insistence to implement it from Class 1.' He added, 'Despite this, the coalition government in Maharashtra had issued an order that Hindi language is mandatory. Now it has removed the word 'mandatory', and has made a verbal deception that Hindi will be the third language 'in general'…The administrative lobby in the education department and the North Indian Hindi speaking leaders in the BJP are responsible for this. This is a conspiracy of the cow belt to take over Maharashtra.' Soham is a Correspondent with the Indian Express in Pune. A journalism graduate, he was a fact-checker before joining the Express. Soham currently covers education and is also interested in civic issues, health, human rights, and politics. ... Read More
