CBSE Principals Pressured to Back Flawed Evaluation System
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) finds itself at the centre of a storm as principals from various schools allege they were pressured to publicly defend the board’s new digital evaluation system. This comes in the wake of widespread student dissatisfaction over the recently declared Class 12 results.
The controversy centres around the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system, introduced for the first time for Class 12 examinations. Students have reported numerous issues, ranging from blurred answer sheets to technical glitches in marks allocation. Such problems have fuelled a wave of discontent, leading to calls for greater transparency in the evaluation process.
Principals Under Pressure
According to reports, CBSE officials allegedly urged school principals to produce videos and circulate messages in support of the OSM system. The principals, however, find themselves in a precarious position, balancing the need to adhere to board directives while addressing the legitimate concerns of students and parents.
One principal, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the situation as 'untenable'. 'We are expected to support a system that has visibly failed many students,' they remarked, noting the ethical dilemma faced by educators caught between institutional loyalty and student advocacy.
Growing Criticism and Demands for Change
The backlash against the OSM system is part of a broader critique of CBSE’s handling of digital transitions. Critics argue that the rapid implementation of digital evaluations was ill-prepared, lacking the necessary infrastructure and testing before full-scale deployment.
Students, some of whom claim their future academic prospects are jeopardised due to incorrect marks, have been vocal in their demands for rectification. Social media platforms have become battlegrounds for students sharing experiences and organising collective appeals for re-evaluations.
In response to the uproar, CBSE has promised to investigate the reported glitches. However, as the situation stands, the board's credibility hangs in the balance, with students and educators alike watching closely for substantive action rather than mere assurances.
