Why India must rethink alternative schooling pathways

India’s school education system is designed for uniformity, but its learners are anything but uniform. In recent years, conversations around school education have increasingly centred on performance, standardisation, and Board results. Yet, beneath this visible layer lies a quieter, less acknowledged reality: a growing number of students who find themselves unable to cope with the rigid structures of mainstream schooling. For a system serving millions, the cost of this mismatch is not just academic underperformance, but silent exclusion.

The dominance of centralised boards such as the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has shaped a largely uniform model of schooling. This model, while effective for many, is built around fixed timelines, standardised curricula, and high-stakes exams. Such an approach leaves little room for flexibility, alternative pacing, or non-linear learning journeys. Students who struggle within this framework are often labelled as underperformers, even when their challenges stem from circumstances such as health issues, family responsibilities, or diverse learning needs.