Delhi Teachers Oppose Show Cause Notices Over CBSE Class 12 Results, Blame OSM System

The debate surrounding CBSE’s On-Screen Marking (OSM) system has intensified after government school teachers in Delhi received show cause notices regarding a decline in Class 12 board examination results.

Teacher associations have strongly objected to the notices, arguing that educators should not be held solely responsible for lower results when the evaluation process itself underwent significant changes this year. The issue has now sparked discussions about the effectiveness of the OSM system and whether technical shortcomings may have affected student scores.

Why Were Teachers Given Notices?

According to reports, teachers from Delhi government schools were asked to explain why their school’s Class 12 board examination results declined compared to previous years.

In earlier years, many schools recorded pass percentages close to 100 percent. However, this year several schools reportedly witnessed a noticeable decline in performance, prompting authorities to seek explanations from teaching staff.

The move has been criticized by teacher representatives, who argue that board examination results depend on multiple factors and should not be attributed entirely to classroom teachers.

Teachers Association Writes to Education Minister

The Government Teachers Association has reportedly written to the Education Minister seeking withdrawal of the show cause notices.

Association representatives argue that teachers are being unfairly targeted despite the fact that a major change was introduced in the evaluation process through the OSM system.

According to them, the issue should be examined at a systemic level rather than placing responsibility solely on teachers.

What Is the OSM System?

OSM, or On-Screen Marking, is a digital evaluation method where answer sheets are scanned and assessed electronically rather than through traditional physical checking.

The system was introduced with the objective of improving efficiency, standardization, and transparency in the evaluation process.

However, teacher representatives claim that the 2026 board examination cycle was the first large-scale implementation of the system, and both teachers and students were adapting to the new process.

Concerns Raised About OSM Evaluation

Teacher representatives have highlighted several concerns regarding the implementation of the OSM system.

Some of the issues reportedly raised include:

• Blurred answer sheet scans.
• Pages appearing out of sequence.
• Technical difficulties during evaluation.
• Errors in scanned documents.
• Lack of sufficient training before implementation.

According to the association, such issues may have affected the marking process and contributed to lower scores in some cases.

Teachers Say They Warned Authorities Earlier

Representatives of the teachers’ association stated that concerns regarding OSM implementation had been raised even before the examination cycle began.

They claim suggestions were made to treat the first year of implementation as a pilot project so that technical issues could be identified and resolved before full-scale adoption.

The association argues that introducing a major evaluation reform without extensive testing increased the chances of errors and inconsistencies.

Rising Number of Revaluation Requests

Another point highlighted by teachers is the increase in students seeking re-evaluation and verification of marks.

According to association representatives, a significant number of students have applied for rechecking, indicating that many candidates were dissatisfied with their scores.

Teachers argue that this dissatisfaction further supports the need to review the evaluation process rather than placing responsibility solely on schools and teachers.

Is the Result Decline Limited to Delhi?

Teacher representatives have also claimed that the decline in results was not unique to Delhi and that similar trends were observed in different parts of the country.

They believe this suggests broader evaluation-related factors may have played a role, making it necessary to conduct a wider review of the marking process.

Should Teachers Be Held Responsible?

The central question emerging from the controversy is whether teachers alone should be held accountable for fluctuations in board examination results.

Teacher associations argue that examination outcomes depend on multiple factors, including:

• Student preparation.
• Evaluation methodology.
• Marking guidelines.
• Administrative processes.
• Technical implementation of new systems.

They contend that if the entire education system contributes to examination outcomes, accountability should also be assessed at multiple levels rather than being directed solely at teachers.

What Happens Next?

Teachers are expected to submit responses to the notices while continuing to seek their withdrawal. At the same time, the debate over the effectiveness of the OSM evaluation system is likely to continue, especially as students pursue re-evaluation and verification of their results.

The controversy has highlighted a broader challenge faced by education boards across India: balancing technological modernization with accuracy, fairness, and confidence in the examination process.

Conclusion

The dispute over show cause notices issued to Delhi government school teachers has evolved into a larger discussion about CBSE’s On-Screen Marking system. While authorities are seeking explanations for lower Class 12 results, teachers argue that technical and implementation-related issues within the OSM framework may have played a significant role.

As re-evaluation requests continue and concerns about digital assessment methods are examined, the debate may influence how future board examinations are evaluated and monitored across the country.