‘Future built on Class 12 marks’: CBSE scandal pushes parents of next batch to seek answers from schools

Last week, a group of parents with children in a private Central Board of Secondary Education-affiliated school in Delhi got together and wrote to the school authorities. They had been watching the CBSE Class 12 result fiasco unfold with growing alarm and wanted answers.

"A group of us drafted an email and submitted a letter to the school seeking clarity on the issue. Some parents, including me, also visited the school to ask questions directly. We wanted to know what safeguards are in place and whether schools had received any guidance," said Himanshu Tyagi (name changed), parent of two CBSE students studying in different schools. He added that the controversy had prompted him and several other parents to formally raise their concerns with school authorities.

Tyagi said parents understood that schools themselves had limited control over board-level systems, but felt the concerns warranted stronger action from authorities.

"Our children's entire future is, in many ways, built on their Class 12 marks. This is not a routine issue that can simply be brushed aside. I also understand that schools cannot do much because the decisions are taken at a higher level. The responsibility lies with the authorities to ensure systems are thoroughly secure before they are launched."

Having children in two different schools, he said he had noticed similar concerns across parent communities.

"One of my children studies in a different school for other reasons, and I can tell you the anxiety is the same there as well. There is a genuine fear among parents and students. They should be focusing on studying, not worrying about whether the systems connected to their examinations are reliable. That should not be their burden."

The controversy surrounding CBSE's online marking system – application and payment glitches , scanned answer sheet mix-ups, the weak security of the OnMark portal and questions about the tender process – has reached the courts and parliamentary standing committee and its impact is continuing to ripple through school communities.

As the current academic session has begun, along with the 2027 board examination cycle, parents across cities have begun seeking assurances from teachers, school administrators and principals about the security and reliability of digital platforms linked to board examinations.

While CBSE has issued as many clarifications as possible on the matter, the episode has sparked wider concerns about cybersecurity, student data protection and the increasing dependence on technology in school education.

Also read CBSE gets new chairman, secretary amid OSM fiasco

CBSE OnMark Portal: Parents seek clarity

For many families, the controversy has raised questions that go beyond the immediate issue. Parents of students entering Classes 10 and 12 say they are looking for reassurance that systems used for registrations, examination-related services and student records are secure.

Akriti Chauhan, a Bengaluru-based parent whose son entered class 12 this year, said discussions about the issue have become common among parents.“When we hear reports about vulnerabilities connected to examination systems, it naturally creates concern. Most parents are not technology experts. We simply want to know that student data is protected and that there will be no disruption to board-related processes,” she said.

Rahul Saxena, whose daughter is also set to write the Class 12 CBSE board examinations next year, said he recently raised the issue with school authorities. “Board exams are already stressful for students. Parents want confidence that the digital systems supporting these processes are secure and dependable and with all the news going on it is a terrible nightmare. We have been asking schools whether they have received any guidance and what safeguards are in place,” he said.

His wife added, "For years, students have been told to double-check their answers before submitting them. Many parents are now wondering whether CBSE followed the same advice before putting its digital systems online. "

Dheeraj Sharma, a parent of two based in Delhi said, "I'm quite active on X, and I'll be honest, this has created a lot of anxiety for me as a parent. Every day, I see complaints, screenshots and discussions about vulnerabilities. Whether everything is accurate or not, it creates fear.

What worries me is that it took two highly skilled ethical hackers to bring these issues to light. Most parents would never have the expertise to identify such problems. If people with that level of knowledge are raising concerns, it naturally makes us wonder what else could be going unnoticed.

My children don't fully understand the implications yet, but as a parent, I do. Board examinations affect years of hard work and future opportunities. Any question mark over the systems connected to them is enough to make families anxious."

Credibility and confidence in the system

For one Central Delhi-based CBSE teacher, the controversy has revived memories of a board results shock involving one of her school's brightest students. "One of our toppers, who consistently scored above 95%, received marks that were far below what we expected. The student was devastated and the parents were confused. We encouraged them to apply for verification because the result simply did not match the student's performance," she said.

The experience, she said, showed how much trust students place in examination systems.

"When something appears to go wrong, students start questioning themselves. That's why any concern around board-related systems worries teachers. Students need to trust that the process is fair and reliable."

According to her, teachers invest significant effort to ensure fair assessment, making it difficult to see questions raised about the credibility of the system. "When teachers spend hours ensuring students get the marks they deserve, it is disheartening when controversies create doubts. Parents trust schools, students trust teachers and teachers trust the board. That trust is very important."