Bihar CM condemns IIT move; CABE taken aback

The Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) whichapproved several reforms suggested by the HRD ministry only a month earlier, was not consulted on the latest proposal by the latter to raise the qualifying marks in the Class XII Board exams to 80 per cent to appear for IIT entrance examinations.

The move has come out of the blue, said CABE member Vinod Raina. Given the national aspirational value in getting into an IIT, political anger is likely.

In an early reaction, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said he was opposed, for it would place students from the state at a disadvantage at the IIT entrance examinations. It is just an idea now and is likely to meet with more opposition, says Raina.

The CABE is supposed to be the apex body to advise central and state governments on education.

At at its 56th meeting last month, it had approved a series of reforms, including development of a core curriculum for science and mathematics for school boards, a grading system in CBSE schools from this year and making class X examinations optional from the next academic session.

CABE was reconstituted by the government only a year earlier to review the progress of education and implementation of education policies.

It also acts as a forum for exchange of views between Centre and States and Non-Government Agencies and others on education policy and progress.