Fri Feb 28 21:12:26 UTC 2025: ## Delhi Parents’ Association Criticizes CBSE’s Plan for Two Class 10 Board Exams

**New Delhi, March 1, 2025** – The Delhi Parents’ Association (DPA) has voiced strong opposition to the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) proposal to hold two Class 10 board examinations in February and May. The DPA argues that the proposed timeline, February 17th to March 6th and May 5th to May 20th, would unnecessarily extend the academic year and place undue financial and academic burden on students.

In a formal response to the CBSE’s draft policy, the DPA suggests holding both exams in January and February instead. They highlight that the May/June exam would delay Class 11 admissions by three months, forcing students to pay additional fees for April, May, and June without attending classes until July. This issue is particularly problematic for students from low-income families attending the 30,000 CBSE schools across India, many of whom would be unable to afford the fees for two examinations. The DPA also calls for the abolition of examination fees.

Aparajita Gautam, president of the DPA, expressed concerns that the extended timeframe would exacerbate the existing coaching class culture, as students would likely attend additional classes to improve their scores in the second exam. This, coupled with the compressed nine-month Class 11 academic year resulting from the extended Class 10 schedule, would create significant pressure on students.

The DPA further points to the high dropout rate between Classes 10 and 12 (6.2 lakh students), arguing that the CBSE’s plan could worsen this. The association advocates for reducing the curriculum load and working towards abolishing the coaching-class culture. The DPA’s feedback urges the CBSE to reconsider its proposal in light of these concerns.

Read More