Kamal Ghorui
With the escalating regional tensions across the Middle East, Class X and XII students have been surrounded by a consistent air of confusion about their academic future. Parents and children have been worried about the cancelled exams and most importantly the grading system, since the marksheet would affect their entrances into colleges in the country and outside it. Now, teachers across the emirates are stepping in to reassure students that their results and academic futures remain secure. The new special assessment scheme for the region, has been designed to ensure fairness and continuity while reinforcing confidence that no student will be disadvantaged.
A hybrid evaluation system
CBSE has introduced a hybrid evaluation system in the Gulf countries that will combine marks from completed exams with calculated averages for papers that were not conducted. This ensures that students are assessed on the basis of demonstrated performance and not missed opportunities. Fatima Martin, Principal and CEO of GEMS New Millennium School, noted that the model “ensures that students are evaluated fairly without being disadvantaged by circumstances beyond their control,” adding that it “shifts the emphasis from a purely examination-driven system to a balanced, evidence-based evaluation.”Under the framework, those who completed all their exams will be assessed on the basis of their actual performance. For those who missed papers, the board will calculate marks using averages taken from their best-performing subjects. For instance, students who appeared for four exams will have the average of their best three subjects applied to the missed paper, while those who appeared for fewer exams will have averages calculated accordingly.
Scope for improvement examinations
One of the biggest concerns for UAE families has been whether the disruption would delay or affect the higher education plans for students completing school this year. However, the board has ensured that the results will be declared on time, in sync with the global schedule, reassuring the stressed parents. CBSE is also continuing its policy of offering improvement examinations, giving students a second chance to enhance their scores. Typically, held in May and June, these exams are aligned with the broader education reforms and offer flexibility to students who believe they could have performed better.
Why did CBSE cancel the exams?
The revised scheme was introduced after the cancellation of exams following the developments in the ongoing Iran vs US-Israel exam. Students across the emirates including UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and Iran faced heightened anxiety before having their scheduled exams postponed, and later cancelled. While families had been awaiting some assurance from the board, the notification of the hybrid evaluation system arrived as a welcome relief that would help parents and students plan their future with more confidence.
