The present system of Higher Secondary Education is the outcome of
intensive researches made by numerous Education Commissions and Eminent Educationists,
brainstorming deliberations and discussions by different Committees and
Conferences during the last 100 years. Prior to the introduction of the Higher
Secondary Education, the duration of the school course was 11 years and the 2
years Intermediate Education was exclusively a part of collegiate education
that offered 2 years degree course. Thus the dividing line between the School
and University courses was drawn at Matriculation. The journey of the Higher
Secondary Education started way back in 1917 with the appointment of the
Calcutta University Commission popularly known as the Saddler Commission. It was
the first Commission that suggested to make the duration of school education to
12 years and to put forward the idea of restructuring of education in the shape
of 10 + 2+ 3.
The University Education Commission (1948-49) also known as the
Radhakrishnan Commission under the Chairmanship of Dr S Radhakrishnan also
recommended for adoption of a uniform pattern of 10 + 2 + 3 for the entire
country. The Secondary Education Commission (1952-53) popularly known as the Mudaliar
Commission recommended adding the first year of the Intermediate course to the
Schools and the second year to the 2 year under graduate degree course so as to
create the 3 year degree course.
The Planning Commission Panel (1960), the third conference of the
Vice-Chancellors of Indian Universities (1961), The Central Advisory Board of
Education Meeting (1962), The Conference of the State Education Ministers, Vice
– Chancellors and Eminent Educationists (1963) had all recommended the same 12
years of school education up to the Higher Secondary level and 3 years of first
degree course. The Education Commission or the Kothari Commission (1964-66)
also recommended the present structure of 10+2+3 pattern of education.
After long years of deliberations and recommendations of different
Education Commissions, the Government of India had notified the National Policy
on Education 1968 and the National Structure of Education (10 + 2 + 3) came in
to existence. Thus the process of upgrading of High Schools into Higher
Secondary schools began from the implementation of NPE 1968. But, the two year
Higher Secondary course at the beginning was conducted both at the schools and
the colleges. Later, the objectives of the
school education covering the +2 stage of last two years were redrafted under
the National Policy on Education 1986. The new policy of 1986 clearly
recommended the +2 stage or the senior secondary education to be properly
belongs to the school education and the colleges offering +2 stage of education
were asked to transfer those classes to the schools.
The history of Higher Secondary Education described above makes it
crystal clear that the higher secondary classes 11 & 12 are integral
part of the school education and I need not explain why the finest
brains of our country had brought this system into existence. The higher
secondary stage of education is a crucial stage in the academic career of
children as diversion of professional selection takes place during this stage. The
educational administrators and teachers should remember one thing at this
juncture. Even though the diversification of course of studies starts after
passing of class 10, children should be helped to identify their natural
aptitude and inclination towards the different courses when they are in classes 9 and 10.
