Common Board Recommendation for Indian Education System
The Ministry of Education recommended that seven states of India adopt a common board for classes 10 and 12. This suggestion follows an analysis by the School Education Department. The analysis revealed that these states accounted for 66 per cent of student failures in the previous academic year. The seven states identified are Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Kerala, Manipur, Odisha, Telangana, and West Bengal.
Current State of School Boards in India
India has 66 school examination boards. This includes three national-level boards and 63 state-level boards. Among these, the top 33 boards cater to 97 per cent of students. The remaining 33 boards serve only 3 per cent. The disparity in board performance is . The recommendation for a common board aims to improve academic outcomes.
Student Performance and Failures
In 2024, around 22.17 lakh students failed Class 10. Additionally, 20.16 lakh students failed Class 12. Although these numbers have improved over the decade, they remain a barrier to higher education transition. The analysis marks the need for a standardised assessment process across boards.
Role of National Institute of Open Schooling
The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) plays important role in engaging unsuccessful students. Its influence is currently strong in Delhi, Rajasthan, and Haryana. The Ministry suggests expanding NIOS’s prominence to states with higher failure rates. This step is essential for reducing dropout rates.
Gender Performance Disparities
The analysis indicates that girls are outperforming boys in most boards, particularly in science subjects. Over 28 lakh girls passed in science, surpassing the 27.2 lakh who passed in arts. This marks shift from previous trends.
Regional Disparities in Academic Performance
Performance varies by medium of instruction. Students using Odia and Malayalam mediums performed better than those in Kannada, Telugu, or Assamese. This marks the need to address regional disparities in educational outcomes.
Success of Integrated Board Systems
States like Kerala, Odisha, and Manipur, which have integrated board systems, achieved pass rates above 97 per cent. Kerala stands out with a pass rate of 99.96 per cent. This success indicates the effectiveness of standardised education systems.
Performance of Navodaya Vidyalayas
Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVs) have shown strong performance, with 72 per cent of students clearing NEET-UG. Students from Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas also excelled in engineering entrance tests. These institutions provide quality education, especially to rural students.
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