A CBSE student is angry with the board's generosity in awarding Cumulative Grade Point Average of 10 to all and sundry
I am a student. A student of the Central Board of Secondary Education, whose inexplicable generosity in awarding a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 10 to every alternate Tom, Dick and Harry has raised a sizeable number of eyebrows across the country.
Numerically, 94,447 out 13,78,853 have scored the supposedly prestigious Perfect 10, which is approximately 7 per cent of the 14-16 aged population, currently under the wings of this Board.
This Board is infamous for handing out marks like hot cakes till Grade 10 and unceremoniously acquainting the bewildered students to the blatant reality in Grade 11 and 12.
This Board, whose 'unique' grading system is somewhat of a cross between the International system and the age-old one, that they have now decided to perfunctorily dismiss.
Needless to say, this attempt to 'revolutionise' education has been a miserable failure.
What is termed as 'encouragement' and 'a step forward' by the CBSE is termed as 'incorrect analysis' and 'a million steps backward' by any sane human being. Placements are, essentially, based on capability. But here, they are based on how many upgrades the board allows.
The unfairness in this system becomes only too apparent when a student scoring 99 per cent and one scoring 91 per cent are grouped together; with a Perfect 10!
The CGPA analysis only shows a fraction of the paradoxes that this system encloses. The actual number is quite mind-boggling.
On one hand, we want a respectable number of skilled and educated youth in the country. On the other, our results can hardly be depended upon to give an accurate estimation of our level of skill and education.
There is a very deep trench of difference between promoting and aiming for a good pass-percentage in contrast to giving all and sundry the top grade.
If one is a top-grade holder, one has a certain responsibility towards making the world a better place in terms of education. That is their skill and they MUST contribute.
But are they?
Are they even able too?
Or are they being too misled by excellent grades in Class 10, choosing something that is quite beyond them, and then being disappointed at their failures?
Painting a blue sky and going back and turning it to rain. THAT is what the CBSE is doing. That is the game that they are playing.
Their intentions are noble and impressive, on paper. But their implementation? Its abysmal. And even that is an understatement.
Giving everyone above-par scores and a false feeling of confidence is a cowardly act. Giving people grades to reduce the number of suicides? This is not Kindergarten.
We make choices based on our marks. One cannot simply be so impassive towards their importance to facilitate their own success. Because this success is failure to all those who know life. And failure, with accurate judgment, will be success to all.
After all, it is each human being's contribution before they leave this Earth counts. Not their Class X marksheet; nor what their field of expertise is, and definitely not a CGPA that falsely makes you feel clever.
If it inspires one, it is good for the world. But if a 5 CGPA gives a prospective footballer the incentive to pursue his 'Personal Legend', (Paulo Coelho) , then I don't see, WHY the board should bind him with their menial motives, and deprive the world of a gem, who will now, never see sunshine?
Photograph: Sahil Salvi/Rediff.com
Note: The lead picture is used only for representational purpose
Pornika Ganguly just passed CBSE Class X from DPS Navi Mumbai
