CBSE’s move evokes mixed response

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, June 18

The proposal of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to introduce two versions of mathematics question paper- one easy and another difficult for Classes IX, X, XI and XII has evoked a mixed response from city’s academics.

The reason behind this move of the CBSE is to provide an ease to the students who don’t intend to pursue the study of mathematics in future.

For instance, students who have a keen interest in the subject and want to take up engineering and sit for the Join Entrance Examination (JEE) Main and Advanced will be able to study mathematics of a higher level, while those who aspire to take up medical stream and want to sit for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) will have the choice of studying the subject at an easier level.

Rachna Monga, Principal, Sanskriti KMV School, said, “The proposal is not up to the mark, as it is again an excuse for the students to avoid classes and remain busy in their coaching classes. She said the CBSE should not focus on the point that how studies become easy for students, rather it should bring such reforms which improve their basic learning of competitive exams in the schools itself.”

“Today, majority of the students hardly attend the classes. Moreover, whether it is NEET or JEE mathematics is a part of every entrance exam, therefore, the proposal sounds a bit impractical when it comes to children’s overall development,” she added.

Manmeet Kaur, another mathematics teacher said: “It is a good initiative by the CBSE. If students have an option to choose the languages they want to study Hindi, Punjabi or Sanskrit then why not mathematics? Not everybody is fond of the subject and for such students, studying elementary mathematics will suffice.”

Another Mathematics HOD of CT Public School, Rajesh Kumar Shukla, said, “It may not be a good idea as there are many children who make up their mind later. Moreover, if a student only studies the basics, it may be difficult for him to compete in various competitive examinations. Also the percentage of students cracking JEE has gone down, therefore, we need to bring reforms that don’t ease the examination pattern, rather improve students’ interest and understanding of the subject.”