Amid Concerns Over CBSE's OSM System, Education Ministry Defends it as 'Transparent', 'Used Internationally' The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) faced widespread criticism from students, parents, and educators over the new on-screen marking (OSM) system for evaluating Class 12 answer sheets, which led to unexpectedly low marks in key subjects. Despite over 85% of candidates clearing the exams, the overall pass rate dropped by more than 3 percentage points compared to the previous year, sparking debates about the impact of the digital evaluation process. The Union education ministry defended the OSM system as a step toward greater transparency and efficiency, emphasizing its international adoption and technical advancements. The CBSE Class 12 results were announced on May 13, prompting immediate backlash from students and parents who attributed the decline in scores to the OSM system. Critics argued that the shift from traditional paper-based marking to a digital process had introduced errors, particularly in subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics. At a press conference in Delhi on May 17, Union Secretary of School Education Sanjay Kumar and CBSE chairman Rahul Singh addressed the concerns, highlighting the system's benefits and its alignment with global standards. Kumar and Singh explained that OSM was designed to enhance transparency by allowing answer sheets to be evaluated remotely, bypassing geographical restrictions tied to regional offices. Kumar noted that the system was already in use by national universities, foreign institutions, and boards like the International Baccalaureate (IB) and Cambridge.#central_board_of_secondary_education #sanjay_kumar #international_baccalaureate #rahul_singh #union_education_ministry
Florida Legislature Approves Bill to Expand College-Readiness Courses Competing With AP Florida’s state legislature recently passed a bill aimed at expanding the state’s college-readiness program, known as Florida Advanced Courses and Test (FACT), to compete with nationally recognized programs like Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB). The legislation includes financial incentives for school districts and educators, offering teachers a $50 bonus for each student who earns a qualifying grade on a FACT exam. These bonuses are comparable to those provided for AP and IB courses, according to Politico. The FACT initiative originated in 2023 amid tensions between Florida’s state government and the College Board over the inclusion of AP African American studies courses. Last fall, the state launched its first pilot FACT courses in algebra at select high schools. While public Florida colleges and universities accept FACT credits, institutions in other states do not recognize them, limiting the program’s broader impact. Some Democratic lawmakers have questioned the rigor of FACT courses, arguing they may not meet the standards of AP or IB programs. They also expressed concerns that parents might mistakenly believe FACT scores could provide an advantage in college admissions beyond Florida. Democratic state representative Felicia Simone Robinson highlighted these worries, stating, “Who is making up these advanced courses, and are they truly equivalent…? If we are, and this is a course we’re just making up for Florida and it’s not necessarily equivalent to AP and IB courses, then we’re putting our students at a disadvantage when they’re trying to compete against other students in the United States.#college_board #florida_legislature #advanced_placement #international_baccalaureate #felicia_simone_robinson
