
NEW DELHI: In a major development, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is considering a proposal that would allow students to use basic non-programmable calculators in Class 12 accountancy exams. The move is aimed at easing the mental load of long calculations and lowering the level of stress among students.
The proposal, presented by the board's curriculum committee, states that the calculators permitted would be restricted to basic financial calculations, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and percentage calculations. For consistency and to avoid the use of sophisticated technological devices, a special panel will be formed to define the acceptable calculator models.
Currently, the CBSE permits students with special needs in both Classes 10 and 12 to utilize calculators during exams. This move aligns with a precedent set by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), which allowed Class 12 students to use calculators in 2021.
Along with the calculator proposal, the CBSE intends to make a number of other changes for bettering the examination process. Among these is a pilot for an On-Screen Marking (OSM) scheme for subjects with lesser student numbers. This scheme is likely to simplify the process of evaluation through the scanning and digital marking of answer sheets. Also, the board is going to initiate a fresh re-evaluation process for board tests, improving the transparency and smoothness of the examination process.
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