INTERVIEW| Shift from CBSE to SSC will benefit students: Principal Secretary Sasidhar Kona
The students who initially appeared for the CBSE Board exams will be prepared for the SSC Board assessments as the CBSE standards and question patterns are too challenging for them. The State government is introducing remedial classes to bridge learning gap and provide resources as students transition to the SSC Boards, says Principal Secretary (School Education) Sasidhar Kona in an exclusive interview with K Kalyan Krishna Kumar. He allayed students’ concerns regarding the CBSE to SSC transition for the Class X final assessment.
Why did the government take this sudden decision to shift students from CBSE to SSC?
We are not against CSBE. The assessments standards are higher and feature different types of questions for which adequate groundwork has not been done. Earlier, the decision to switch to CBSE was made unilaterally, without consulting stakeholders. The infrastructure worth Rs 687 crore and the recurring expenditure of Rs 150 crore needed for this transition was not sanctioned by the previous government. Hence, the sudden swap back to SSC is necessary for the students’ benefit.
Some experts claim the sudden shift benefits no one and disregards students’ perspectives. How do you respond to this?
The shift back to SSC was made to avoid overwhelming students who are unprepared for CBSE standards. The abrupt switch to CBSE did not allow enough time for preparation or resource allocation, and mock assessments showed high failure rates. The online Formative Assessment (FA) conducted in 1,000 CBSE-affiliated schools based on the standards confirmed the lack of readiness. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and HRD Minister N Lokesh have emphasised transforming the education system into the best model, focusing not only on infrastructure but also on improvements.
How many students opted for CBSE in 1,000 affiliated schools?
A total of 82,764 Class IX students were registered to appear for the CBSE Class X Board exams in 2024-2025. In contrast, 3,24,210 students from the remaining 5,845 government high schools will sit for the SSC Board exams. Currently, 76,990 students in Class X from the 1,000 CBSE-affiliated schools are supposed to take the CBSE Board exams in the 2024-2025 academic year.
What is the issue with the Telugu language subject and how do you plan to resolve it?
All students, including those in these 1,000 schools, received new NCERT syllabus textbooks, along with new Telugu textbooks. However, the CBSE Board notified the old Telugu syllabus by for Class X this year by mistake due to miscommunication from the previous administration. Teachers have already completed six chapters from the old syllabus. After discussions with teachers, it was decided to switch to the new Telugu syllabus for the benefit of students and to decrease burden on teachers. Additional classes will be scheduled to cover the Telugu syllabus on time by replacing line subject periods, ensuring flexibility and timely completion.
Have you evaluated the preparedness of students currently studying under CBSE?
Yes, the government conducted online FA based on CBSE standards between August 21 and 31, 2024, to identify gaps in teaching and learning in English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Out of 75,843 students, 326 schools had a zero pass percentage, while only one school achieved a 100% pass rate. These results revealed that most students and schools were unprepared for CBSE board exams, which could lead to high failure rates, academic stress, and even dropouts, potentially resulting in social issues like child marriages.
Is there a possibility that SSC students could face similar issues if assessed now?
No, the students studying under the SSC are better prepared as the assessment process is simpler than the CBSE format. The decision to revert all students to SSC was made because they were unlikely to meet CBSE’s rigorous assessment standards. Moving forward, the State government will continue to implement reforms to avoid such situations in the future.
What reforms are you planning to introduce?
We have decided to implement a gradual transition to better assessment standards starting from Class VI in all government schools, beginning in the 2025-26 academic year. This approach will give both students and teachers time to adapt to the new system. Additionally, we will extend reforms to Intermediate education after a thorough study. Our current focus is on improving assessments, and from next year, we will shift our focus to enhancing learning outcomes.
