Internal assessment marks for Class XII students reduced

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 22

After glaring anomalies in exam markings of the Class X results last year proved an embarrassment for the Education Department, the department has, this year, slashed the internal assessment, Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCEs), for the upcoming Class XII examinations from 30 per cent to 10 per cent. However, with the internal assessments of Class X remaining unchanged, the disproportionate results of which started a trouble in the first place has struck off a fresh debate.

The Class XII board examinations will be held from February 28 to March 24 and the Class X board examinations are scheduled to be held from March 14 to March 29.

While as per the last year’s Class X and Class XII internal assessments, marks in practical subjects were divided into three categories — theory (50 marks), CCE — internal assessment — (30 marks) and practical (20 marks). Of these, 17 of 50 were passing marks in the theory examinations. Notably, this marking pattern was being followed for the past three years in the Education Department.

In a change brought this year (only for the Class XII examinations so far), the marks in practical subjects have now been divided as follows — theory (70 marks), CCE — internal assessment — (10 marks) and practical (20 marks).

From the 50 marks last year, theory marks have, hence, been increased to 70 while the CCE has been reduced by 20 marks – from the 30 marks in the previous year — and is now at 10.

The faux pas in previous exams

Anomalies had come to the fore in the markings of Class X students in the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) examinations last year. Disproportionate markings in theory examinations, compared to practical exams and internal assessment (CCEs), had surfaced, especially since the CCEs are marked at the school level. Many students, who scored barely between 6 to 33 per cent marks in the theory, had been accorded 80 to 90 per cent marks in the continuous and comprehensive evaluation (CCE) and practicals.

“A large-scale exorbitant markings in practical examinations resulted in the total scores of otherwise below average students skyrocketing last year. While the slashing of the CCE is a welcome move, it is all the more required in the Class X exams. The Matric examinations are the first board examinations for the PSEB students and the internal assessments should not act like a system to spoon-feed students. It’s good that Class XII students will get a fair assessment in their examinations but the same should also be done for the matric students,” a teacher said.

DEO (Senior Secondary) Harinder Pal said: “In view of issues highlighted last year after Class X examinations, the Education Department has now changed the pattern to prevent students from banking on hefty assessments. The move was brought in two months ago and will also impact the question paper structure and the entire marking pattern of Class XII. The board is proceeding with the same markings for Class XII students as yet.”