The Bihar government has decided to remove the word “fail” from the Class 10 and Class 12 marksheets of students appearing for board examinations from the current academic session, replacing it with “Eligible for Skill Development” or “Kaushal ke liye patra” (eligible for skills). Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari said the move is intended to protect students’ morale and ensure that an examination result does not become a judgement on their talent or future.
The revised terminology will also allow students who do not clear their board examinations to pursue vocational training programmes through the Bihar Board of Open Schooling and Examination (BBOSE). The Education Department will amend the relevant rules and issue instructions to the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) to implement the change. Alongside this, the state plans to provide one month of special classes for students appearing for the Class 10 supplementary examination, giving them additional support to improve their chances of clearing it.
A Result Should Not Define A Child
Announcing the decision at a review meeting, Tiwari stressed that failing to achieve the expected marks does not erase a child’s potential. “Not scoring the expected marks in an examination does not erase a child’s potential,” he said, adding that words such as “fail” would therefore not be used on certificates. The government’s proposed terminology seeks to shift the focus from an academic setback to an alternative pathway, particularly skill development and vocational education.
Officials said students who do not clear their examinations will be able to explore vocational training through BBOSE rather than seeing an unsuccessful examination attempt as the end of their educational journey. The department also plans special classes for students appearing for the Matric supplementary examination, which will run for a month and provide additional preparation and remedial support.
Part Of A Wider Shift In School Education
The marksheet change comes as Bihar’s Education Department attempts to broaden the idea of what school education should offer students. Earlier this month, the state announced “no-bag days” on Saturdays in government schools, with students expected to participate in activities beyond conventional textbook-based learning, including creative pursuits such as theatre and music.
The state has also been preparing for its Teachers’ Day programme on September 5, where teachers from across districts are expected to be recognised. While changing a word on a marksheet cannot by itself address the academic, social or economic pressures faced by students who struggle in examinations, the decision could reduce some of the stigma attached to failure. At the same time, its success will depend on whether the promised skill-training opportunities and additional academic support are accessible, credible and genuinely useful to students.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
For many young people, a poor examination result can feel like a permanent label, especially when the word “fail” becomes part of an official document that may be shown repeatedly in the years ahead. Bihar’s decision recognises an important truth: a student can struggle in an examination without being a failure in life. Replacing a stigmatising label with a pathway towards skills and vocational training is a positive step, provided it is backed by meaningful opportunities rather than being merely a change in terminology.
Education should help young people discover their strengths, recover from setbacks and find dignified routes towards employment and further learning. The bigger challenge now is to ensure that every student who does not clear an examination receives the guidance, training and second chances they need. Do you think replacing “fail” with a pathway towards skills can help young people rebuild confidence and find new opportunities?
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