The chasm that divides public and private schools in India
Most schools have declared their results for the Xth and XIth standard examinations. The results are stark in their disparity.
Most government schools that follow the PUC system have declared results that are not at all encouraging. Of the 4,57,187 students who appeared for the exams (under the new syllabus), 2,31,514 have passed. Of the 36,517 students who appeared under the old syllabus, only 4,810 students have managed to pass, registering a pass percentage of a mere 13.17.
Contrast that with the results declared by private schools that follow the ICSE system. The results of the Indian School Certificate (ISC) and the Indian Council of Secondary Examination (ICSE) was announced on Saturday at 3 p.m. Around 90,000 students appeared for the Class X (ICSE) and 44,000 for Class XII (ISC) examinations this year. Almost all Bangalore schools logged 100% pass results for both the exams.
This stark contrast between the results logged by government schools and private schools is indeed a cause for concern.
Most government schools that follow the PUC system have declared results that are not at all encouraging. Of the 4,57,187 students who appeared for the exams (under the new syllabus), 2,31,514 have passed. Of the 36,517 students who appeared under the old syllabus, only 4,810 students have managed to pass, registering a pass percentage of a mere 13.17.
Contrast that with the results declared by private schools that follow the ICSE system. The results of the Indian School Certificate (ISC) and the Indian Council of Secondary Examination (ICSE) was announced on Saturday at 3 p.m. Around 90,000 students appeared for the Class X (ICSE) and 44,000 for Class XII (ISC) examinations this year. Almost all Bangalore schools logged 100% pass results for both the exams.
This stark contrast between the results logged by government schools and private schools is indeed a cause for concern.
Comments
1. The English syllabus of the CBSE is better manageable than that of ICSE/ISC. While a broad-based syllabus is generally percieved to be good (an issue that needs to be debated in the current scenario of focused approach), it increases the load on students, thus leading to stress. A student should be given the option of studying only the basics of the language if his/her interests lie elsewhere. This choice is given in CBSE, not in ICSE/ISC. English is not compulsory even at the Cambridge International Examinations.
2. The CBSE syllabus is presented in a more scientific manner. The entire syllabus is divided into units and every unit is allotted the number of periods required to cover it in the year and also the weightage of marks it will carry in the examination. Thus, the teacher and student can plan the study of the various segments of the syllabus accordingly. Not so in ISC
3. The examination pattern of entrance examinations (IIT-JEE & PMT) follows that of CBSE since CBSE conducts these examinations. ICSE has no role in this. This puts those ISC students who are interested in competitive examinations at a disadvantage as they need to reorient themselves to a different system.
4. The ICSE syllabus (Class X) is very heavy compared to that of CBSE. ICSE has two papers in English, whereas CBSE has only one. ICSE has three papers in Science (Physics, Chemistry & Biology) whereas CBSE has only one. ICSE has two papers in Social Studies (History & Geography) whereas CBSE has only one. The school bag of an ICSE student is much heavier than that of a CBSE student.
5. Environmental Education is compulsory at the ICSE & ISC examinations whereas this is not so at the CBSE examination. CISCE, in a panic reaction to Supreme Court ruling regarding EE, rushed into it while CBSE is content to wait a review of this ruling where the matter may be dropped/modified.
6. From next year CBSE will give only grades in the examination results. This is seen as a progressive move. ICSE has not made such an announcement as yet; it is struggling to keep its head over the waters of internal (mis)management issues which may take quite some time to sort out.
7. It is a myth that CICSE is well recognized all over the world and not CBSE. Now UCAS recognizes CBSE at par with ISC .
8. CBSE has in recent years been very proactive in devising new courses that are academic with a vocational slant. It is more responsive to the needs of a dynamically changing pedagogical scenario. The NCERT connection makes it a very pro-active education board and not just an examining body.
9. The concept of “Front Line Curriculum” has been put in place in CBSE that requires syllabi be done on an on-going basis and 10 per cent of irrelevant or outdated material is replaced with more pertinent matter. CISCE has no academically designed process or programme for syllabi revision/upgradation.
10. CBSE has well-networked state-and national-level sports (both indoor and outdoor) activities. CISCE has a state and national level essay writing competition and debate.
11. Examination schedule in CBSE is more student friendly than that in CISCE.
12. The current leadership in CISCE does not inspire confidence, unlike CBSE and NCERT that has renowned educationists managing the affairs. CISCE’s unspoken but obvious policy of keeping out non-angloindians from key positions makes it an insular body with poor prospects for the future. For example, its decision making body, the Executive Committee, does not have a single non-angloindian on it; the Chairman and the Secretary are both anglo-indians with little or no credentials as educationists.