CBSE revising system of communications, justifies increase in exam fee with less revenue: Dr Sanyam Bhardwaj, controller of examination, CBSE, Delhi
Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is taking matters into hand and reversing the system for school communication and examination with standardization, and change is as expected difficult for many. This was shared by Dr Sanyam Bhardwaj, controller of examination, CBSE, Delhi in an exclusive interaction.
Bhardwaj was in the city for Sahodaya meet. In the interaction, Bhardwaj justified the fee hike and shared issues faced by the board due to lack of standardisation and conflicting views of school principals.
CBSE has increased its examination fees for Class 10 and Class 12 by 200 per cent and 40 per cent, respectively, to Rs 1,500 each. The board has also more than doubled the migration fees from Rs 150 to Rs 350. Students who have not cleared their examinations and are re-seeking admission will have to shell out Rs 5,000.
When asked about increase in examination fee and conflicts arising from it, Bhardwaj justified, “The hike had become necessary because the surplus income it earned had dipped as it no longer conducted several competitive exams that it used to till recently.”
He explained that the board conducted several competitive exams till last year, such as the Joint Entrance Examination-Main, the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for undergraduate medical courses, and the National Eligibility Test for assistant professorship. “The board made a surplus of a few hundred crore rupees which was used to cross-subsidise fees,” Bhardwaj said.
All these examinations have been shifted to the newly created National Testing Agency from this year. As a result, there is no surplus. “CBSE does not get government funds, so we had to increase the fee,” Bhardwaj said.
Conflicts with school principals
“I had prepared the date-sheet for class X and class XII examination of the academic session 2019-20 in March, but we have not been able to declare it due to conflicting views till date,” Bhardwaj said. The board has been changing a lot of rules especially regarding examination, which has led to conflicts with school principals.
“Asking schools to verify and share list of candidates with undertaking from parents has been another issue that has raised conflict,” Bhardwaj said. He explained that many parents feel it is an additional responsibility for the institutes, which is troublesome.
No more personal IDs
Bothered by the hassle of communicating with a new person every year from schools, Bhardwaj announced the decision to provide serial numbers to schools and specific email ids. “Instead of schools giving us a new email ID to communicate every time, we decided to give them an ID that must be maintained by the authorised person irrespective of changes in administration,” he said.
Time management lessons for Schools
“When we have less time to finish a task, then it is normal for Sanyam to become Sanjay, which is what we have been dealing with at the board, so we preponed the process of registration giving schools enough time to prepare an accurate list of candidates that we need not correct again and again,” Bhardwaj explained the reason behind the action. Though it has not been easy for the board to get this message across easily, the controller is persistent on it. Schools have been divided into three categories: private, independent and government. Id would be provided accordingly.
Board aiming to increase Happiness Index
“The board has been suffering from various issues causing problem in examination and management, so before these problems turn into diseases, we are taking preventive measures in various forms including training,” Bhardwaj said. He quoted the importance of increasing happiness index in the system of communication with the board.
“We need everyone to be polite and humble, only then we can increase the happiness index in the system and further extend it to parents and students,” Bhardwaj said.
Bhardwaj was in the city for Sahodaya meet. In the interaction, Bhardwaj justified the fee hike and shared issues faced by the board due to lack of standardisation and conflicting views of school principals.
CBSE has increased its examination fees for Class 10 and Class 12 by 200 per cent and 40 per cent, respectively, to Rs 1,500 each. The board has also more than doubled the migration fees from Rs 150 to Rs 350. Students who have not cleared their examinations and are re-seeking admission will have to shell out Rs 5,000.
When asked about increase in examination fee and conflicts arising from it, Bhardwaj justified, “The hike had become necessary because the surplus income it earned had dipped as it no longer conducted several competitive exams that it used to till recently.”
He explained that the board conducted several competitive exams till last year, such as the Joint Entrance Examination-Main, the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for undergraduate medical courses, and the National Eligibility Test for assistant professorship. “The board made a surplus of a few hundred crore rupees which was used to cross-subsidise fees,” Bhardwaj said.
All these examinations have been shifted to the newly created National Testing Agency from this year. As a result, there is no surplus. “CBSE does not get government funds, so we had to increase the fee,” Bhardwaj said.
Conflicts with school principals
“I had prepared the date-sheet for class X and class XII examination of the academic session 2019-20 in March, but we have not been able to declare it due to conflicting views till date,” Bhardwaj said. The board has been changing a lot of rules especially regarding examination, which has led to conflicts with school principals.
“Asking schools to verify and share list of candidates with undertaking from parents has been another issue that has raised conflict,” Bhardwaj said. He explained that many parents feel it is an additional responsibility for the institutes, which is troublesome.
No more personal IDs
Bothered by the hassle of communicating with a new person every year from schools, Bhardwaj announced the decision to provide serial numbers to schools and specific email ids. “Instead of schools giving us a new email ID to communicate every time, we decided to give them an ID that must be maintained by the authorised person irrespective of changes in administration,” he said.
Time management lessons for Schools
“When we have less time to finish a task, then it is normal for Sanyam to become Sanjay, which is what we have been dealing with at the board, so we preponed the process of registration giving schools enough time to prepare an accurate list of candidates that we need not correct again and again,” Bhardwaj explained the reason behind the action. Though it has not been easy for the board to get this message across easily, the controller is persistent on it. Schools have been divided into three categories: private, independent and government. Id would be provided accordingly.
Board aiming to increase Happiness Index
“The board has been suffering from various issues causing problem in examination and management, so before these problems turn into diseases, we are taking preventive measures in various forms including training,” Bhardwaj said. He quoted the importance of increasing happiness index in the system of communication with the board.
“We need everyone to be polite and humble, only then we can increase the happiness index in the system and further extend it to parents and students,” Bhardwaj said.