New Delhi: The spectre of a Class X mathematics retest in July has left CBSE students in Delhi worried about securing their preferred stream in Class XI.
Normally, the schools allot the science, humanities and commerce streams in July on the basis of students' aggregate board marks. Since a retest will delay the board results at least till August, the schools have said they will allot the streams on the basis of students' scores in their pre-board exam, held in February.
Most students, however, do not treat the pre-boards seriously enough. Many now fear their relatively poor aggregate marks in the pre-board exam would cost them the coveted science or commerce stream.
"I have done well in mathematics and science in the board exam but, going by my pre-board results, I may not get the science stream," a student at Sam International School in west Delhi said, requesting anonymity.
The schools have said that once the board results are declared after a possible mathematics retest, they will allow students to change their streams if their board aggregate warrants it.
But Ritesh Ranjan Singh, who studies at the Air Force School in Subroto Park, said the delay could hurt a science student.
Normally, Class XI opens in April, with all the students being taught certain common foundational courses till the board results are declared in July and the streams are allotted.
"If a student secures admission to the science stream only in August, it will be difficult to cope. He may not perform well in the mid-term examination in September," Ritesh said.
Ujjwal Bhandari, who studies at Modern Convent School, cited another problem: "The Class XI lessons, due to start from April 16-17, would have made significant progress by July when we have to take the Class X mathematics test again. It will be difficult to focus on both."
Sagar, a student of N.K. Bagrodia School in Dwarka, said the CBSE's decision to keep the board examinees waiting for the retest till July was "anti-student".
Kiran Mehta, director of academics at Mother Mary School, Mayur Vihar, agreed with the students' complaints.
"Stream allotments will be a problem this year. If a retest has to be held, the CBSE should hold it in April in the students' interest," Mehta said.
The CBSE has clarified that a purported Class XII Hindi Elective question paper that has been circulating on social media and WhatsApp is "either of old year or a fake" and does not imply another leak.
The Class X mathematics and Class XII economics papers had leaked on WhatsApp, prompting the CBSE on Wednesday to announce nationwide retests in both subjects.
But on Friday, the government and the board ruled out a nationwide mathematics retest saying the leak had affected only Delhi and Haryana. They mooted the possibility of a mathematics retest in July for students in Delhi and Haryana if investigations suggested a retest was necessary.
Sangh student wing ABVP on Saturday demonstrated in front of the CBSE office, demanding removal of board chairperson Anita Karwal over the paper leaks.
"She should resign on moral grounds, else she should be sacked," ABVP leader Saket Bahuguna said.
A memorandum the ABVP had handed to human resource development minister Prakash Javadekar on Friday did not demand Karwal's removal.
