New CBSE Rules for Class 10 and 12; 3 Languages and 7 Additional Subjects for Class 10; 6 Papers for Class 12

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is considering substantial changes to the secondary and higher secondary education system. For Class 10, the proposal suggests shifting from studying two languages to three, with at least two being native Indian languages. Additionally, Class 10 students might need to pass 10 subjects, up from the current five.

Similarly, for Class 12, the proposed adjustments involve students studying two languages instead of one, with the condition that at least one must be a native Indian language. In total, they would need to clear examinations in six subjects instead of five to graduate from high school.

As per the reports from Indian Express, the proposed changes align with CBSE's broader initiative to implement a national credit framework, aiming to establish academic equivalence between vocational and general education. This facilitates mobility between the two education systems, as outlined in the National Education Policy 2020.

The current school curriculum lacks a formalized credit system. According to the CBSE plan, an academic year would consist of 1200 notional learning hours, translating to earning 40 credits. Notional learning refers to the stipulated time an average student would need to spend to attain specified outcomes, encompassing both academic and non-academic learning. The scheme of studies is adjusted to mention teaching hours and credits earned for each subject. The credits earned would be digitally stored in the Academic Bank of Credits, accessible through a linked Digilocker account. Importantly, these credits are "independent" of the marks obtained by a student, according to an official CBSE document.

To implement this, the Board proposes increasing the number of subjects studied by adding multidisciplinary and vocational courses. For Class 10, students would need to pass 10 subjects, including three languages and seven main subjects, under the creditized system. While two of the three languages should be native Indian languages, the seven main subjects proposed for Class 10 include mathematics and computational thinking, social science, science, art education, physical education and well-being, vocational education, and environmental education.

Assessments for languages, mathematics, computational thinking, social science, science, and environmental education would be external, while art education, physical education, and vocational education would involve a mix of internal and external examinations. Students would need to pass all 10 subjects to progress to the next grade.

For Classes 11 and 12, students would study six subjects, including two languages and four subjects, with an optional fifth subject. At least one of the two languages must be a native Indian language. The proposed changes were sent to all heads of CBSE-affiliated institutions for review and comments, receiving favorable responses from school heads and teachers. Concerns were raised about the transition to the new curriculum and teaching autonomy, which are being addressed through guidelines to guide teachers in implementing the transition. However, it remains unclear whether the creditized system will be rolled out in the next academic year or the year after that.