The Delhi Parents Association (DPA) has raised serious concerns over the Central Board of Secondary Education's rollout of the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system for Class 12 answer sheet evaluation, alleging that the implementation was rushed and carried out without adequate preparation, training, or feedback from teachers.
Allegations of Rushed Implementation
DPA president Aprajita Gautam claimed that the trial run for the digital evaluation system was conducted over a very short period and involved only a limited number of teachers. She stated that proper feedback was not taken from teachers, and the sample size was small because the focus was more on whether the system could handle the load rather than on its effectiveness.
Gautam further alleged that many teachers could not devote sufficient time to familiarise themselves with the system as they were occupied with academic responsibilities in schools. She emphasised that teachers whose primary responsibility is teaching students and ensuring school performance could not take out enough time to practice, and whether they checked papers or practiced adequately was not given due attention.
Student Discrepancies and Re-evaluation Issues
Her remarks come amid growing concerns raised by students over discrepancies in Class 12 results following the introduction of OSM this year. Responding to CBSE's assertion that the new system had enhanced transparency and was well received by evaluators, Gautam said complaints from students suggested otherwise. She noted that after seeing so much evidence being shared by students, if officials still say everything is fine, it is very sad. She questioned why the board does not acknowledge that mistakes may have happened, as students are showing proof and saying their papers were not checked properly and marks were not awarded.
Gautam also criticised the functioning of the re-evaluation process, alleging that many students faced difficulties accessing the portal during the initial stages. She pointed out that there are many students who could not access the first step of the process and do not even have photocopies of their answer sheets, leaving them without a means to seek redressal.
Demand for Transparency in Application Data
Gautam further questioned the interpretation of the nearly 4.5 lakh applications reportedly submitted for verification and re-evaluation. She demanded that the data be made public, state-wise and city-wise, to understand where these applications are coming from. She claimed that a large number of students are from government schools and rural areas where access to computers and technical support is limited, and many may not have been able to apply at all.
The board on Tuesday said the online portal had received a total of 43,980 applications for verification and re-evaluation of answer sheets as of 12 noon. Later, it said the number had crossed 56,000 as of 9:30 pm. The CBSE opened the online portal for verification of issues observed in scanned copies of answer books and re-evaluation of answers for students dissatisfied with their exam evaluation. The portal was launched after a delay, with the CBSE having earlier said that applications for verification and re-evaluation of answer books were expected to begin by May 29.
CBSE's Stance on OSM
The government and CBSE have maintained that the OSM system was introduced to enhance transparency, accuracy, and efficiency in the evaluation process. The board has asserted that the digital system eliminates errors in totalling and mark transfer, ensures greater accountability in assessment, and provides a more standardised evaluation mechanism. However, the DPA's allegations and student complaints suggest that the implementation may have been flawed, raising questions about the readiness of the system and the support provided to teachers and students.
