Perfect Scores or Policy Shift? JKBOSE’s 100% Marks Trigger Statewide Debate
Sakib Jkbose
Srinagar, Jan 17: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) has found itself at the centre of a growing debate after several students secured perfect scores in the recently declared Class 10th and 12th annual examinations.
For the first time in recent years, more than a dozen candidates achieved a flawless 500 out of 500, raising questions among parents, teachers, and education experts about the credibility and depth of the evaluation process.
JKBOSE announced overall pass percentages of 84.02% for Class 10th and 85.03% for Class 12th, but it was the unprecedented full marks that drew widespread attention. Traditionally, especially in language subjects, examiners would deduct at least one mark, even from well-written answers, acknowledging the inherent subjectivity of assessment.
The departure from this practice has left many stakeholders puzzled. Educationists argue that awarding perfect scores may blur the distinction between good and exceptional performance, potentially weakening academic benchmarking.
“Achieving 500 out of 500 in a board examination raises serious concerns about whether the assessment system is effectively measuring analytical ability, creativity, and higher-order thinking,” said Tariq Wani, a parent, in a social media post. He urged authorities to revisit the examination framework to ensure it genuinely reflects students’ academic depth and learning outcomes.
Similar concerns were echoed by other parents, who fear that such results may foster unrealistic expectations among students. “Giving 100 percent marks can lead to overconfidence and may later result in disappointment when students face more competitive academic environments,” said Shazia, another parent.
Critics caution that branding teenagers as ‘perfect performers’ solely on exam scores could be misleading, particularly when they transition to national-level competitive exams or professional courses where evaluation standards are far more stringent.
JKBOSE officials, however, have defended the new evaluation approach, linking it to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. According to board officials, the revised system prioritises conceptual clarity over rigid technical marking.
“Under NEP-2020, if a student demonstrates clear understanding and answers precisely, no marks are deducted, even in language subjects. This is why some students have received full marks,” a JKBOSE official told Greater Kashmir.
While the board views the change as a progressive reform, critics argue that encouragement should not come at the cost of rigorous assessment. They warn that the absence of score differentiation may undermine the purpose of examinations and fail to capture subtle differences in student competence.
As the debate continues, the controversy has reignited calls for a comprehensive review of JKBOSE’s syllabus, evaluation criteria, and implementation of educational reforms to ensure both fairness and academic integrity.
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