CBSE 12th result 2017: Principals still divided over moderation process

KOCHI: CBSE's moderation policy has always evoked a mixed response even if students score high marks in difficult examinations or when the scores dip despite an easy exam.
CBSE and 32 state boards planned to scrap the moderation policy under which students are given grace marks to make up for the differences in difficulty level in different sets of question papers.This was done to curb the recent inflation in marks in CBSE Plus two exam. But, this move was strongly opposed by both students and parents. After hearing arguments, a Delhi court directed CBSE to continue the policy. “Moderation policy is necessary for CBSE students as they have to compete with state students for higher education.It's not right to let them down if the question paper is tough.But I don't think there is much variation in our school results owing to the policy . We get the results we expect,“ said Mala B Menon, principal of Cochin Refineries School.
“I am not sure if the policy has deeply affected marks. The above average students get the marks we anticipate. This year all the papers were easy except for business studies in commerce stream. But, students did extremely well in this paper. As for weaker students, I think they received support during moderation,“ said Santha Vijayan Principal iswadeepthi Vidyalaya Public School, Aluva.
While Suresh M Velayudhan, principal of SN School in Poothotta, felt that moderation helped students this year.“This year accountancy and physics papers were tough. I don't think students would have scored so well if there was no moderation. The number of students who scored A1 would have been less,“ he said.
Though maths paper was easy , the marks were not what schools expected. Janitha Cherian, Principal of Nava Nirman Public School said: “We expected exceptional results, but this time it was lower than what we scored in the previous years. This does raise questions about the consistency of moderation marks.“