‘OSM Glitches, Not Teachers’: GSTA seeks withdrawal of notices over CBSE Class 12 result dip

The Government Schools Teachers' Association (GSTA), Delhi, has written to Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood seeking the withdrawal of show-cause notices issued to teachers following the decline in Central Board of Secondary Education, CBSE Class 12 results 2026. In a letter dated May 29, GSTA alleged that technical and procedural shortcomings in the newly-introduced On-Screen Marking (OSM) system were a key reason behind the lower scores which later led to complaints from students and parents. The association argued that teachers were being unfairly held responsible for factors beyond their control.

CBSE declared the Class 12 results for all streams on May 13 and more than 94,000 students scored 90% and above in the CBSE Class 12 examinations 2026, while only 17,113 candidates (less than 1%) of the total examinees secured 95% or higher.The overall pass percentage stood at 85.20%, marking a decline of 3.19 percentage points from last year's 88.39%. The drop came despite an increase in the absolute number of students who passed the intermediate or Class 12 examination.

Association argues that the primary reason behind the drop was the technical and procedural shortcomings associated with the implementation of OSM.

"In view of the above circumstances, it clearly appears that the primary reason behind the decline in results was the technical and procedural shortcomings of the OSM system implemented for the first time," the letter stated.

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‘OSM introduced without adequate preparation’

The letter, signed by GSTA General Secretary Ajay Veer Yadav, states that the association had earlier suggested that the OSM system should first be implemented as a pilot project before being rolled out comprehensively. According to the association, the recommendation was not considered.

"This year, the CBSE implemented the On Screen Marking (OSM) system without adequate preparation and practical assessment," the letter states.

GSTA claimed that evaluators and teachers across different subjects reported several technical and practical difficulties during the evaluation process. Among the issues highlighted were blurred scanned answer sheets, uploading of incorrect answer booklets, missing pages in answer sheets, and difficulties in reading students' scripts due to poor handwriting when viewed digitally.

According to the association, these issues compelled evaluators and officials to exercise excessive caution in order to avoid errors, resulting in unusually strict marking in many cases.

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Teachers unfairly blamed

"Despite these factors, school-level comparisons were made with previous years' performances and several teachers were subsequently issued show-cause notices and memorandums," association alleges. The association also said that teachers were threatened with adverse remarks in their Annual Performance Appraisal Reports (APARs), creating stress and mental pressure within the teaching fraternity.

The association defended the role of teachers, stating that educators perform their duties with dedication and responsibility and that school heads continuously monitor academic performance throughout the year.

The letter highlighted measures such as remedial classes, extra classes and parent-teacher interactions that are regularly conducted to support weaker students.

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The association has requested the Delhi government to view the decline in Class 12 results in the context of the shortcomings of the OSM system and ensure that no teacher is held responsible for the same. It further demanded that all show-cause notices and memorandums issued to teachers under directions of higher authorities be treated as null and void. "Teachers should instead be provided with a stress-free and supportive environment so that they may prepare and guide students more effectively for improved results in the coming academic session," the letter stated. Copies of the representation have also been sent to the Secretary (Education) and the Director of Education, Delhi.

The letter comes amid a wider debate over CBSE's implementation of the On-Screen Marking system and concerns raised by students, parents and teachers regarding evaluation and re-evaluation processes.