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Bengaluru, July 31, 2025: The Karnataka School Education Department's plan to align the SSLC examinations with the Central Board's framework has sparked significant controversy, with renowned author Baraguru Ramachandrappa and various education experts voicing their strong dissent. The proposed changes, such as implementing internal evaluations and setting a 33-mark minimum for passing each subject, have been criticized as "unscientific" and potentially harmful to the overall quality of education.
Concerns Over Internal Assessment
Critics argue that the internal assessment system, which allows students to earn a maximum of 20 points per subject, is eroding academic rigor. According to Ramachandrappa, if a student attains 20 internal marks, they only require 13 in the main exam to pass. This method is deemed unscientific and may lead to inflated grades without genuine comprehension of concepts, thus compromising learning standards.
The state’s decision to opt for a State Education Policy (SEP) over the National Education Policy (NEP) has sparked further controversy. Ramachandrappa, who is critical of the move, has questioned the rationale behind embracing a Central Board-like exam system while simultaneously rejecting NEP. He pointed out the apparent philosophical inconsistency, stating, “If the adoption of NCERT textbooks and centralized exam patterns is the goal, it seems illogical to disregard NEP. This raises concerns about the coherence of the state’s educational strategy.”
The introduction of a textbook evaluation system, which mandates teachers to administer more than 25 mini-exams per year, has sparked controversy. Detractors claim that this approach overburdens pupils and educators alike, exacerbating stress levels without yielding significant improvements in academic achievement. An education expert has pointed out that such initiatives seem to prioritize administrative tasks over genuine educational advancement.