CBSE Class 10 English exam: Board drops controversial passage, full marks to students

A passage in one set of the English language and literature paper of CBSE Class 10 first term examination is not in accordance with the guidelines of the board and it has been decided to drop passage number one and its accompanying questions of the question paper series JSK/1.

After facing flak, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has now announced that it has decided to drop the Class 10th English comprehension passage. CBSE had conducted the English exam wherein a comprehension passage had sentences like “emancipation of women destroyed the parent’s authority over the children” and “it was only by accepting her husband’s way that a mother could gain obedience over the younger ones”.

CBSE has now issued a clarification that, “A passage in one set of the English language and literature paper of CBSE Class 10 first term examination held on December 11, 2021, is not in accordance with the guidelines of the board with regard to the setting of question papers. Against this backdrop and on the basis of feedback received from stakeholders the matter was referred to a committee of subject experts. As per their recommendation, it has been decided to drop passage number one and its accompanying questions of the question paper series JSK/1.” 

CBSE has decided to award full marks for the passage to all the students concerned. To ensure uniformity and parity full marks will be also awarded to students for passage number one for all sets of the question paper Class 10 English language and literature, the CBSE said.

The passage had sparked controversy for allegedly promoting "gender stereotyping" and supporting "regressive notions". The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) concluded the Class 10th term 1 CBSE English paper 2021-22 on December 11 in which a question from Section A (Reading) was called objectionable and ‘anti-women’ passage.  Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also attacked the government and CBSE over a passage asked in CBSE Class 10 English question paper. She also termed the use of such a passage "unbelievable" and posted from her Twitter handle: “Unbelievable! Are we really teaching children this drivel? Clearly, the BJP Government endorses these retrograde views on women, why else would they feature in the CBSE curriculum?”

Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi also slammed the ' shockingly regressive’ passage regarding women in the CBSE's English exam question paper during the Zero Hour in Lok Sabha. She also sought an apology from CBSE.

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