Schools affiliated to the CBSE and ICSE council are asking teachers to frame questions based on contemporary events such as the current floods in Himachal Pradesh, analyse specimen papers and encourage students to ask more questions in the classroom.
Schools are conducting workshops to make teachers aware of the new mode of assessment introduced by the CBSE and the ICSE council, which focuses on critical thinking and application-based questions.
The CBSE has said that next year’s Class X exams will have 50 per cent application-based questions. The share of such questions will be 40 per cent in the Class XII exams in 2024.
The ICSE council has said next year’s ICSE (Class X) and ISC (Class XII)exams will see a small increase in the percentage of questions that encourage critical thinking. The share of such questions will keep increasing over the years.
“Our teachers are looking at content beyond the textbooks. For example, a question in geography or a language paper can be based on the current floods in Himachal Pradesh,” said Anjana Saha, principal, Mahadevi Birla World Academy.
Saha said that examples from real life can be used to ask age-appropriate questions or as case studies in various subjects in the classroom.
Several principals said that it would initially be tough for teachers to frame critical-thinking and application-based questions because they have for years been asking direct questions.
The change cannot happen overnight and teachers would require training and regular practice, said the principals of many CBSE and ICSE schools.
“A teacher has to work hard to frame critical-thinking and application-based questions. If a teacher knows the art of setting such questions, he or she would align the teaching that way,” said Amita Prasad, director, Indus Valley World School.
Terence John, director of education and development, Julien Day Schools, said teachers were in a “learning stage and did not have enough material to frame such questions”. “Training is also on to encourage students to ask questions in class. When they do that, their understanding becomes clearer,” said John.
“Teachers need practice to set questions and time to get used to the new system. Unless and until teachers know how to frame questions and are equipped to handle a critical-thinking question, they would not be able to induce among students the curiosity to approach a particular ques