CBSE drops Class 10 English controversial passage; Students to get full marks for question

CBSE Class 10 Term 1 : The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided to drop the Class 10 English comprehension passage that sparked a controversy for allegedly promoting "gender stereotyping" and supporting "regressive notions". The board had announced that the subject experts will look into the matter.

“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. In this backdrop and on the basis of feedback received from stakeholders the matter was referred to committee of subject experts. As per their recommendation it has been decided to drop the passage number one and its accompanying questions of the question paper series JSK/1.”

CBSE to award full marks for Class 10 English passage question

Full marks will be awarded for this passage to all the CBSE Class 10 students. "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 CBSE had early issued a statement saying that the Class 10 English passage received mixed reactions from a few parents and students.

Various excerpts from the passage have gone viral on social media with users calling out the board for supporting "misogynistic" and "regressive opinions" and hashtag "CBSE insults women" trending on Twitter.

Also read | CBSE Term 1 Class 10 English Exam: No error in paper, all questions complete, says board

Students had found question numbers 13 and 14 confusing and incomplete. Students and teachers also said that no questions were asked in section A, part 2, and options had only statements. However, after the exam was concluded, the CBSE’s controller Sanyam Bhardwaj said that there are no error in the CBSE Class 10 term-1 English exam 2021.

Sonia Gandhi slams 'misogynist' question in CBSE English exam

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Congress president Sonia Gandhi demanded immediate withdrawal of the objectionable question and a review into the "gravest lapse". She condemned the inclusion of the passage in the CBSE Class 10 English paper and said that 'I raise strong objections to such blatantly misogynist material finding its way to an important examination conducted by the CBSE.'

Other political leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Lakshmi Ramachandran, spokesperson of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee also hit out the CBSE over the over a comprehension passage.