India’s Class 10 and 12 education system is marked by a diverse array of curricula and assessment patterns, with students enrolled across state boards, the CBSE, CISCE, and IB. Data from 2007 to 2023 reveals that state and regional boards dominate the landscape, with 92% of students appearing for higher secondary exams under these boards, while only 8% are from national boards like CBSE and CISCE.
In the first part of this series on secondary and higher secondary exam results, we explored national trends, including pass percentages, the performance of open school boards, and disparities in outcomes by gender and caste. Now, in this second part, we turn our focus to regional and national boards, comparing student performance across states to uncover which regions are leading the way in academic success.
Before delving into the analysis, a note of caution: As highlighted in our previous story, many state boards implemented alternative assessment methods during the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, leading to notably higher pass percentages in 2020 and 2021. These outlier years likely inflated the overall pass percentage averages for the period between 2007 and 2023. Excluding these years might present a more accurate and conservative picture of long-term performance trends across boards.
More than 90% of the students appearing in exams are from state/regional boards
India’s Class 10 and 12 education system is marked by a diverse array of curricula and assessment patterns, with students enrolled across state boards, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), and the International Baccalaureate (IB). Data from 2007 to 2023 reveals that state and regional boards dominate the landscape, with 92% of students appearing for higher secondary exams under these boards, while only 8% are from national boards like CBSE and CISCE. Five major boards—Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi (CBSE & CISCE), Bihar, and Tamil Nadu—accounted for nearly half of all students taking these exams.
A similar pattern emerges in secondary education, where national boards account for just 9% of total appearances. Once again, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi (CBSE & CISCE), Bihar, and Rajasthan collectively represented almost half of the students sitting for these exams during this period, highlighting the significant role of state boards.
The data paints a concerning picture of student retention in India’s education system, with a significant drop-off between secondary and higher secondary levels. From 2007 to 2023, around 83 million students who appeared for secondary exams did not advance to higher secondary exams. This gap is mirrored in the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER), which fell from 79.6% at the secondary level to just 57.6% at the higher secondary level in 2021-22.
The Transition Rate further underscores this issue, with 78.4% of students moving from secondary to higher secondary, compared to 88.8% transitioning from upper primary to secondary. Retention Rates also decline sharply as students progress through the system. While 95.4% of students enrolled in primary grades (1 to 5) are expected to complete this level, the rate drops to 81.2% for elementary (1 to 8), 64.7% for secondary (1 to 10), and just 43.6% for higher secondary (1 to 12). That means, approximately 4 in every 9 children who enrolled in class 1 do not finish class 12.
Failure rates higher in regional boards than in the National Board for Higher Secondary and Secondary
The diversity in assessment across boards results in varied learning experiences and challenges for students competing in national entrance exams. With three national boards—the CBSE, CISCE, and National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS)—and over 60 additional boards at the state level, pass percentages reveal a sharp contrast in outcomes.
Between 2007 and 2023, students appearing for higher secondary examinations under national boards maintained an average pass rate of 87%, with girls outperforming boys by a notable eight percentage points. Among state boards, only Rajasthan (89%), Tamil Nadu (88%), and Goa (88%) surpassed this national average. Most state boards fell short, with Jammu and Kashmir (51%) and Meghalaya (67%) ranking the lowest.
A similar trend is observed in secondary examinations, where national boards averaged an impressive 95% pass rate. Kerala stood out as the only state board to exceed this, with a 96% success rate. Meanwhile, Meghalaya (59%), Madhya Pradesh (62%), and Chhattisgarh (63%) occupied the bottom ranks, highlighting significant disparities in educational outcomes across the country.
State Open Schools have lower failure rate than the NIOS in Higher Secondary
In our previous article, we explored the role of open schools and how the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) supports State Open Schools. Analysing failure rates in NIOS and State Open Schools for higher secondary exams from 2009 to 2023 reveals a clear trend: most State Open Schools outperformed NIOS. While NIOS recorded an average pass percentage of 54%, state boards like Punjab (72%), Andhra Pradesh (71%), and Chhattisgarh (70%) showed significantly better results. However, a few states—West Bengal (37%), Madhya Pradesh (43%), and Rajasthan (48%)—fell below the national average among the eight State Open Schools.
For secondary exams, the national average pass percentage stood at 57%. Andhra Pradesh (72%) and Chhattisgarh (64%) were the only State Open Schools to exceed this benchmark. Notably, Chhattisgarh, which ranks low in non-open school performance, emerged as a top performer in open school results, highlighting the divergence in the education landscape.
PARAKH – An effort to bring equivalence across boards
India’s education system is made up of 69 different school boards, including State, Central, and international ones, each playing a crucial role in shaping the educational landscape. Over time, these boards have evolved from simply conducting exams to actively participating in curriculum development and reform. The concept of educational equivalence is vital as it impacts academic recognition, job prospects, and career opportunities. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023 aim to bring quality and equity into education. A key initiative under NEP 2020 is the creation of ‘Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development (PARAKH)’, a body dedicated to setting academic standards and ensuring equivalence across all school boards. This includes ensuring that boards have consistent standards in areas like board structure, resources for students, and assessment methods. While standardization is necessary for academic mobility and qualification credibility, there are concerns about excessive centralization. Given that more than 90% of the students appear from regional boards, it is suggested that states be given more autonomy to enhance their assessment methods, making the system more adaptable and regionally relevant.
