Delhi’s education system is facing criticism over the handling of academically weaker students, with experts warning that a government-backed project may jeopardize their future. According to teachers involved in the initiative, students enrolled in the NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling) program do not receive the same school experience as their peers, as regular classes for weaker students are often not conducted.

A major factor driving this trend, they say, is the pressure on school principals to improve 10th-grade results. To achieve higher scores, students struggling academically are moved to NIOS, separating them from mainstream classrooms and peers.

Ashok Agarwal, president of the All India Parents Association and senior advocate at the Delhi High Court, slammed the practice. “Weak children from poor families attend school for regular education, but to improve 10th-grade results, government schools select these students and send them to NIOS, which offers a substandard curriculum compared to CBSE,” he said.

Agarwal added that even if students pass the NIOS exam, their options remain limited, typically allowing only admission to the Arts stream in Class 11. “The NIOS project is a gamble with the future of children,” he warned.