Nine-point grading in Madhyamik from 2009

Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, February 2, 2007

The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) will begin a nine-point grading system in Madhyamik from 2009. For Class VI to IX, however, the grading system will come into effect from this May.
“We will introduce grades from class VI to IX from the 2007-2008 academic session beginning in May. And when these Class IX students go to Class X, they will be the first batch to get grades in Madhyamik,” said WBBSE president Prof Ujjal Basu.
The WBBSE took the decision at its general body meeting on Friday. It also formed a task force that will decide on the modalities for introduction of the grading system. It will submit its final report by March 31.
The task force will also discuss terms of reference on various matters, like whether there will be marks along with grades or only grades and whether there will be a grand total. The highest grade, A++, will be accompanied by a remark. The lowest grade is yet to be decided. During summer vacation, teachers will receive training on how to award grades.
WBBSE will also review its exam regulations to facilitate changes. The teachers’ unions have suggested supplementary exams for students who fail in some subjects but score pass marks in their grand total. “We could promote these students to the higher class, give them special coaching in the subjects they failed and conduct a supplementary examination three months later. If they pass they will be promoted, otherwise not,” said Prof Basu.
The board will also review pass marks. Currently, students have to score at least 20 in each subject and 34 on an average to be declared ‘pass’ in a group. The board is thinking of bringing the pass marks down to 20.
The board also wants to start ‘cumulative report cards’ that will also state subject-wise marks and grades of the student in the previous class. “Preparing cumulative report cards is a laborious task but it would greatly benefit the students. The purpose of grading is to ease exam-related stress and ensure that students perform better. This cannot happen unless the teachers get to see how they have performed in the last few years,” said Prof Basu.
WBBSE will also deliberate on whether changes could be made to the academic session. They will also premeditate on whether promotion from class VI to VIII can be given on the basis of the grand total in the best four or five subjects.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com