The Delhi Parents Association (DPA) has raised concerns over the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) implementation of the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system for Class 12 answer sheet evaluation, alleging that the rollout was carried out without sufficient preparation, teacher training and feedback.

DPA President Aprajita Gautam said the trial phase for the digital evaluation system was conducted over a limited period and involved a small number of teachers. She claimed that many teachers were unable to devote adequate time to familiarise themselves with the system because of their academic responsibilities in schools.

The remarks come amid concerns raised by some students regarding discrepancies in Class 12 results following the introduction of the OSM system this year.

Gautam said complaints from students suggested that errors may have occurred during evaluation and called on the board to acknowledge and investigate such concerns. She also questioned the functioning of the re-evaluation process, alleging that some students faced difficulties accessing the online portal and obtaining copies of their answer sheets.

The DPA further called for greater transparency regarding applications submitted for verification and re-evaluation, urging CBSE to publish detailed data on a state-wise and city-wise basis.

According to CBSE, the online portal received 43,980 applications for verification and re-evaluation by noon on Tuesday, with the number later crossing 56,000 by 9:30 pm. The board opened the portal for students seeking verification of issues in scanned answer books and re-evaluation of answers. The portal will remain open until June 6.

Gautam also alleged that a shortage of evaluators may have resulted in some Class 12 answer scripts being assessed by Trained Graduate Teachers (TGTs) instead of Post Graduate Teachers (PGTs), who are typically assigned such work. She called for an inquiry and sought disclosure of the number of evaluators engaged for the exercise.

CBSE has maintained that the OSM system was introduced to improve transparency, accuracy and efficiency in the evaluation process. The board has stated that the system reduces errors in totalling and mark transfer while providing greater accountability and standardisation in assessment.

The concerns come amid recent changes in the board’s leadership, with CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh and Secretary Himanshu Gupta being moved out of their positions. The Centre has constituted a one-member committee to examine matters related to the procurement of services for the on-screen marking system.

Inputs from PTI

Also Read: CBSE Says 3.8 Million-Packet DoS Attack on Website Thwarted