CBSE unveils sweeping education reforms – 3 languages, 10 subjects for class 10 and 12

The Cental Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has put forth a proposal to bring about significant changes in the education system, particularly for classes X and XII students. According to reports, the proposal suggests introducing three languages in Class 10 instead of the current two, with a mandate for at least two of them to be Indian languages. Additionally, the passing criteria for Class 10 students may be expanded from the requirement of passing in five subjects to 10.

For class XII students, the CBSE recommends studying two languages instead of one, with the condition that at least one of them should be a native Indian language. Furthermore, the passing requirement for  class XII students may shift from five subjects to six.

These proposed changes align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aiming to establish a national credit framework in school education. The CBSE envisions a credit system, with a full academic year comprising 1,200 notional learning hours or 40 credits. The term “National Learning” is introduced, representing the estimated time needed for a typical student to achieve specific learning objectives.

According to the CBSE proposition, students must complete 1,200 study hours annually, covering academic teachings, extracurricular activities, experiential, and non-academic learning. The Academic Bank of Credits will digitally record students’ earned credits, accessible through a linked Digilocker account. Notably, these credits are independent of the traditional grades received by students.

To implement these changes, the CBSE suggests adding more subjects to the secondary and upper school curricula. The updated curriculum will include vocational and transdisciplinary courses, requiring students to pass ten subjects—three languages and seven main subjects. This marks a shift from the present requirement of passing in five subjects, including two languages and three main subjects like Social Studies, Maths, and Science.