A Race to Bottom

Context: CBSE’s learning and evaluation processes based on inflating marks and race to the “top” is really a race to the bottom with long-term consequences. 

Flawed approaches in the Essentials of Learning Process

• Syllabus Formulation: Usually teachers, researchers and experts decide topics which need to be included, the sequencing and their relative importance. 
• Syllabus of Class XII syllabus, contains relatively easier topics while the more challenging concepts are left for Class XI. 
• Evaluation process: which tests understanding, power of critical thinking and provides an honest benchmark for an outsider to gauge students’ performance.
• Moderation of evaluation process : Question papers are moderated to ensure that they are not too challenging and maximum students pass with very high marks.
• Most self-respecting institutions of higher learning don’t trust these marks.
• Academics lament the weak foundations of students’ learning.