As the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) gears up to align the school curriculum with the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020, which includes shifting from one language to two in Class 12, the government is considering providing students with two difficulty levels for the additional language — basic and standard.
These two difficulty levels offered could resemble the choices available for mathematics in Class 10, where the standard level asesses higher mathematical skills while the basic level is easier. The latter is designed for students who do intend to pursue mathematics beyond Class 10.
This move is being considered to ensure that poor performance in the additional language doesn’t affect Class 12 students adversely. The proposal is expected to be delivered at a meeting of all CBSE-affiliated schools, which the Board is likely to call after April 15, 2024.
The CBSE has proposed significant alterations to the school curriculum to implement recommendations outlined in NEP-2020. One of the proposed adjustments entails increasing the total number of languages studied: from two to three in Class 10 and from one to two in Class 12. According to the proposal, at least two out of the three languages in Class 10 should be native to India, and in Class 12, at least one out of the two languages should be native.
A nationwide consultation involving all CBSE schools will be called to deliberate on how the above proposals should be executed, with the inclusion of options such as the two difficulty levels for additional languages. Additionally, the timetable for introducing two Board exams, in line with the NEP-2020 recommendations, will also be addressed during this meeting. Earlier in 2024, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan declared that students in Classes 10 and 12 will be able to sit for the Board exam twice, aiming to reduce pressure and provide them with an opportunity for enhancement.
Pradhan also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision through the NEP is to keep students stress free, enrich them with high-quality education, stay linked with their cultural roots, and prepare them for the future. This is the formula for making India towards becoming a developed country by 2047.
