Of the ten lakh tenth-gradersin India, more than five lakh have opted out of board exams, scheduled next year.

Education reforms introduced by the HRD ministry in 2009 had made board exams optional for students. However, in the absence of clear directives, the exams have become compulsory for students in secondary schools (up to class 10) as they have to take admission in a different school for intermediate education.

But students of senior secondary schools (having classes up to XI and XII) could also opt for class X boards if they intend to change their school, board or take a transfer to some other city.

 '“There are roughly eight lakh class tenth students studying in senior secondary schools. The option of selecting board exams was only with them. Rest two lakh students studying in secondary schools had no option,” CBSE chairman Vineet Joshi told Governance Now. Out of this eight lakh, only 33 percent have opted for the board exam and rest will go with the school-based examination.

The certification process, to be done at the end of class tenth, is no different in both the cases. The certification of boards will be done by the CBSE and the school-based exams are also going to be signed by the Controller of Exam, CBSE and by the head of the respective school.