Grading Or Degrading?

Is change always a good thing?

Transition from one form to another heralds a new beginning. Often one’s lives are affected as a consequence of someone else’s decision. We are repeatedly led to believe that change shall eventually be beneficial. Wouldn’t it instead be better to continue down the same path with complete knowledge of what we shall encounter? There is a certain anger and resentment when change is thrust upon us, when the natural balance of things are affected.

A few years ago, there used to be fierce competition during the Class X Central Board Examinations. Tensions ran high, students got sick with nervousness, and parents were in even worse shape. When the results were announced, it was ecstasy for those at the top of the list along with a healthy dose of relief. For those left languishing at the bottom, it was heartbreak. An unfortunate consequence of this was a large number of teen suicides during the month of May.

Then along came a wizened old man named Kapil Sibal and the rest as they say is history.

He brought about the Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) system of schooling reducing the pressure of the final examination. What this essentially means is that if a student performed well in the classroom, the burden of performing well in the exam was greatly reduced. But the most significant development Mr. Sibal brought about was to reduce the final calculation of the result to a Grade Point system (GPA). While earlier it was easy to differentiate between two students, now several students had the same GPA reducing competition greatly.

Lesser competition could only mean lesser stress right?

On the one hand it is undeniable that the new system has finally made students less wary of the Board Examinations. Under the earlier system, the month of March would be a torrid month for pupils. Now, even they admit to the lack of pressure.

But, isn’t it a well advertised fact that human beings work much better under pressure? Isn’t that the case with most of us? We seem to realize the gravity of the situation only when we are driven up the wall. There is no better remedy to boost one’s performance than a healthy dose of fear.

However, there is a vast contingent of students who have benefited from the change. They are those who are labeled as academically weak. Earlier, the gulf between the top students and someone who has not performed as well was so large that even discussing the child’s performance with others was a matter of shame for parents and others. Now, even these students are branded with a GPA, which is nowhere near as bad. But, the reduced competition translates into no defined topper. Those at the top have been adversely affected. Thousands of students made the perfect score of a 10.0 this year. I got a CGPA of 10 as well but there were 18 others along with me and that dampened the euphoria.

But, the grading system is essential for the greater good of a large percentage of the student population. What should also be remembered is that such competition at such a young age is probably not needed in the first place anyway.

It would be wrong to label change as black or white. All that must be retained is that change is inevitable.

And one must adapt or risk being left behind.