CBSE Class X Board exams likely to make a comeback

     The Class X Board exams are likely to be back in CBSE schools as the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) committee may recommend changes in the continuous and comprehensive evaluation (CCE) scheme. The committee will meet on Wednesday to discuss the new education policy. 

       It is also likely to take a final call on the "no detention policy" in schools. The CABE committee in 2012, headed by then Haryana education minister Geeta Bhukkal, had recommended scrapping the policy as it believed it affected "learning outcomes". Many states have raised concern about the policy under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act. 

The CABE committee will also deliberate on extension of the RTE Act to pre-school as well as secondary education. 

This would be the first meeting of the highest advisory body on education since the NDA government came to power. The committee was reconstituted in June with 19 nominated members. The 63rd meeting will also discuss the increasing weight of schools bags and status of NCC and NSS in schools and colleges. 

Sources in the human resource development ministry said the government has not made any major policy changes in school education so far and has been tinkering with the same introduced by the previousgovernment. The meeting is also likely to make a start on the new education policy. 

"The ministry has also prepared a note on the CCE system, primarily analyzing its shortcomings. This was done after consulting school principals and other stakeholders," said a senior ministry official. 

Meanwhile, CBSE's problem-solving assessment now may be asked to be conducted at Classes V and VIII instead of Classes IX and XI. CABE is also likely to recommend certain changes in the CCE, like two term-end exams-one to be conducted by the board and other by schools.