CHENNAI: Four months after it decided to give all-pass to nearly nine lakh Class X students, the Tamil Nadu government has now decided not to print any grades or marks on mark sheets for these students.
The mark sheets for state board Class X students of the 2020-21 batch will just have all pass printed on them.
Admission to Class XI and polytechnic colleges will be based on Class IX marks, officials said.
“The director of government examinations will only print all-pass on mark sheets.
We can’t give marks or grades as there was no exam,” a senior official from the school education department said.
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No half-yearly or quarterly exams or common tests were held for these students as schools were mostly closed due to the surge in Covid-19 cases.
“Leaving school will issue a certificate for Class IX marks.
Based on the marks, students will get admissions in higher classes and polytechnic colleges,” the official added.
While some school principals welcomed the decision, others wanted marks or grades to be assigned based on school-level tests.
“I feel the government’s decision is better.
Class X can be given all passes.
We have also conducted many exams and we know where the children stand.
Based on those marks, we can admit our students.
For outside students, we can consider their Class IX marks,” said Agnes Rita, principal, GRT Mahalakshmi Vidhyalaya HSS, Ashok Nagar.
Experts suggest grades based on school tests
N Vijayan, senior principal, Zion Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Tambaram, said the school education department can consider giving marks or grades based on school-level tests.
“Even CBSE has given an evaluation criteria to award marks to Class X students,” he said.
P Patric Raymond, general secretary, Tamil Nadu Graduate Teachers Federation, said around six lakh Class X students in government schools did not write any tests during 2020-21.
“The previous state government cancelled Class X board exams in February when there was no demand and Covid-19 cases were also under control.
No tests or evaluations were conducted during the two months of physical classes.
So, the present government has no option other than mentioning all passes to state board students,” he said.
TN: No marks or grades for 9 lakh all-pass Class X students
