One day I saw an ad for open schooling, the same day my son got his results. You know that moment? When your kid comes home with a report card and suddenly the entire house revolves around those numbers. Your parent’s generation did it, your friends are doing it, and now you’re catching yourself doing it too. “95%? That’s good, but why not 98?” Sound familiar?
I get it. I really do. Growing up in India, we’ve all been told the same story nail your boards, and the world is yours. Get anything less than that, and well, your life might as well be over. That’s the message, isn’t it?
But here’s the thing. I’ve worked with so many students over the years, and I’m telling you—that story is incomplete. And worse, it’s becoming genuinely harmful.
The Real Problem with Obsessing Over Marks
Let me tell you about a student I worked with. Brilliant kid. Scored 94% in Class 10 CBSE. But sitting with her one day, I realized she couldn’t hold a conversation in English. Not because she wasn’t smart, but because she’d spent three years memorizing textbook answers instead of understanding anything. She could regurgitate information faster than anyone in her class, but ask her to think? To apply? To create? Nothing.
And she’s not alone. This happens thousands of times every year.
The problem is what researchers call the “marks trap.” Our education system tests one very specific skill: your ability to recall information and write it down under time pressure. That’s it. That’s not your potential. That’s not your intelligence. That’s definitely not your future.
Because here’s what the real world actually needs from you—:
- Problem-solving abilities that go beyond textbook scenarios
- Communication skills that let you actually talk to people, not just write answers
- Creativity and original thinking (which multiple-choice questions actively punish)
- The ability to learn continuously when things change (and they always do)
- Resilience and grit when you face something you’ve never seen before
Your marks don’t measure any of that. Not even close.
Employers and Colleges Are Already Moving On. Are You?
Here’s what’s interesting and frankly, a bit ironic. Parents are still losing sleep over board marks. But employers? Universities? They’ve already figured out that marks are incomplete data.
Colleges are increasingly looking beyond grades now. They’re evaluating aptitude, general awareness, communication skills, and how well you work with others. Companies? They literally don’t care if you scored 85% or 72%. They care whether you can actually do the job.
I’m not saying marks don’t matter at all. Of course they matter they open certain doors, especially in India. A good score definitely helps, particularly if you want to get into a top college. But the idea that your board marks define your entire future? That’s old thinking. That’s pre-internet, pre-startup, pre-everything thinking.
The Skills That Actually Matter
You want to know what I notice every single day in my training sessions? The kids who excel in real life aren’t always the ones who topped in school.
The ones who do well are the ones who:
- Actually understand what they’re learning, not just memorize it
- Can express themselves clearly whether in English, Hindi, or however they communicate naturally
- Aren’t afraid to fail and try again
- Can work with others without needing someone to tell them what to do every step
- Are curious about things beyond their syllabus
These things? You don’t develop them by staring at question papers. You develop them by doing. By creating things. By failing at stuff. By having real conversations. By taking on projects that matter to you.
And here’s the thing you can develop these skills while you’re studying for your boards. They’re not either-or. But our current system forces them to be.
What About Students Who Are Juggling Multiple Passions?
This is where it gets real. I work with a lot of kids, sports players, aspiring musicians, young entrepreneurs, budding artists. And every single one of them faces the same impossible choice: pursue what you actually love, or chase board marks?
A girl passionate about badminton can’t go all-in on her national championship prep because she’s terrified of her 12th marks. A kid who wants to learn music has to choose between his passion and his “studies.” A teenager building their first business has to hide it because it’s not “practical.”
This is insane. And frankly, it’s why so many talented young Indians end up feeling trapped.
This is exactly where alternative pathways like open schooling come in.
There’s Another Way: Open Schooling Through NIOS
Not everyone thrives in the traditional CBSE or ICSE system. And honestly? Not everyone should have to.
If you’re reading this and thinking, “Yeah, but what’s the alternative?”, there actually is one. It’s been around for decades, it’s completely government-recognized and legitimate, and more students are using it than ever before.
NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling) is another education board just like CBSE or ICSE and it is a Government Organisation. National Institute of Open Schooling is an autonomous body established by The Ministry of Education, Government of India. It’s not “inferior” or a backup plan for kids who couldn’t make it in regular school. Open schooling is a genuinely different approach to learning.
Here’s how open schooling works: you study at your own pace, on your own schedule. You still take board-equivalent exams (which are recognized everywhere), but you have the flexibility to pursue other interests simultaneously. You can be preparing for your 12th exams AND training for a sports championship. You can be building a business AND getting your recognized certification. You can be learning music professionally AND meeting all your academic requirements.
And the quality? It’s solid. NIOS is government-approved, and your 12th certificate from NIOS is identical to a CBSE certificate in the job market and for college admissions.
IIL, Lucknow: Making Open Schooling Accessible
Now, open schooling sounds great in theory. But if you’ve looked into it, you know that finding a good centre matters. A lot.
IIL (Indian Institute of Learning) in Lucknow is an authorized, registered study and exam centre for NIOS which is the National Institute of Open Schooling. They’ve been around for over 20 years, and they know what they’re doing. Unlike some centres that just hand you study material and disappear, IIL actually guides students. They understand the NIOS system inside out, and they help students figure out the pace that works for them.
They also recently launched SKOLA an online study platform for open schooling. This means you don’t have to be in Lucknow to access their support. Whether you’re in Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, or a small town, you can use SKOLA to study, clear your doubts, get exam prep, and stay on track for your National Institute of Open Schooling certification.
Think about what this means: flexibility without compromise. You get a recognized, government-approved education. You get professional guidance and support. And you get the freedom to be yourself to pursue what actually matters to you all at the same time.
So, What Do You Actually Want For Your Kid?
Here’s the question I want to leave you with, whether you’re a parent, a student, or an educator:
Do you want your child to score the highest marks? Or do you want them to become someone who can think, create, communicate, and adapt? Someone who isn’t destroyed by a single bad exam? Someone who has the courage to chase what matters to them?
Because here’s the truth those two things aren’t always the same. And increasingly, especially for today’s world, the second option matters way more.
Your board marks aren’t your destiny. They’re just one piece of information about how you performed on one particular test, on one particular day. They say absolutely nothing about your creativity, your grit, your character, or what you’re capable of achieving.
So maybe it’s time we stopped treating them like they do. It may be a time to opt for open schooling.
Want flexibility without sacrificing quality education? IIL Lucknow and SKOLA are there to help students across India find their own path with open schooling recognized, credible, and genuinely supportive. Because education should work for you, not against you.
