To Err Is Not CBSE? Why Is It Running Away from Re-Evaluation?

CBSE’s decision to deny re-evaluation of answer sheets can mar the future prospects of class 12 students. (Photo: Harsh Sahani/ The Quint)

Trouble seems to be mounting for CBSE yet again. After delaying the results by a week because of the moderation row, it has some new and not-so-pleasant surprises in store for its students – this year, CBSE will not allow any rechecking of answer sheets. The marks will have to be accepted as they are, except for computation mistakes.

No Re-evaluation This Year

In a press release issued after the declaration of results on 28 May, CBSE has made it clear that “no request for re-evaluation will be entertained by the Board in 2017.” The process of verification and access to answer sheets will, however, continue.

The decision was taken in July 2016 when CBSE chairman cited resource constraints for taking such a decision. He explained that 1.8 percent of the total number of students appearing for the CBSE board exam apply for re-evaluation, which is a significantly high number. But the number of complaints found genuine have always been negligible.

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Addressing Genuine Complaints

The policy of re-evaluation was introduced in 2014. While no replacement policy was announced for re-evaluation, the board had assured that a new procedure will be put in place for students who have a genuine concern.

Such students can file an application with the regional office, after which a committee will look into the request and the need for re-evaluation. However, the review would be done very scarcely, only on a case-by-case basis.

No new announcement has been made in 2017 in this regard. The students and parents are panicking, unaware of the authority to approach for clearing doubts about their performance.

The old policy was also not very effective as only less than ten out of some 200 subjects were considered for re-evaluation, excluding even the major Humanities subjects. It took a court order in August 2016 for the board to re-evaluate an incorrectly marked Political Science answer sheet.

Also Read: CBSE in Mess of Its Own Making: What’s Happening to 2017 Results?

Argument Based on Financial Cost

The CBSE had received a major financial blow in 2016, when two young lawyers succeeded in convincing the Supreme Court that CBSE Board sheets should be provided at an RTI fee of Rs 10.

While in an earlier judgement the court had specified that the board’s answer sheets can be considered as information under the Right to Information Act, 2005, the CBSE had continued to ignore by issuing a notification. A student had to pay as much as Rs 1,000 per subject for re-evaluation and accessing their answer sheet.

The latest CBSE notice specifying the fees for re-totalling and obtaining a copy of the answer sheet as Rs 1,200 is in violation of the September order of the Supreme Court.

The Court had said that answer sheets come under the ambit of the RTI, and should be accessible at only Rs 10.

But CBSE issued its own circular and continued to charged Rs 1,000. In 2016, the CBSE was again warned not to charge such a hefty amount. However, in 2017, it is again charging a higher fee for re-totalling at Rs 1,200.

Also Read: Why There’s No Glory in Topping CBSE Board Exams

Denying Students Their Rights

A student of DPS Rajnagar, who scored 82 percent and is seeking re-evaluation in Maths and English paper, says, “I have been calling the CBSE helpline for two days and it is always busy! My confidence in the CBSE has completely eroded.” He adds, “My father went to the CBSE office on Monday and was told that only re-totalling could be done. It is like, To err is never CBSE.”

Fiscal and human resource limitations are not acceptable as excuses for denying the students the satisfaction of re-checking. Despite its claim of fairness, the subjectivity of board answer sheet evaluation is hardly disputable.

By making it difficult for the students to ask for re-evaluation, the CBSE Board is certain to be perceived as more undemocratic by children. The high-stakes nature of standard 12th marks makes the decision all the more harsh for students.

Source: The Hindu, The Logical Indian

(Akshat Tyagi is the author of ‘Naked Emperor of Education’, India's first young voice against the dehumanising schooling model. He tweets @AshAkshat.)