Delhi schools

Delhi schools will implement a revised academic and assessment framework for Class 9 from the 2026-27 academic session, introducing mandatory vocational education and a third language while offering students optional advanced examinations in Mathematics and Science. According to a circular issued by the Directorate of Education, Class 9 students will have six core subjects: Language-1, Language-2, Mathematics, Science, Social Science and Vocational Education, or Kaushal Vikas. Performance in these subjects will determine students’ eligibility for promotion to Class 10. Vocational Education has been added as a compulsory subject to provide students with early exposure to practical skills, skill development and employability-oriented learning. The revised framework also makes a third language, designated as R3, compulsory for Class 9. Students will continue with the three-language combination they studied in Class 8 and select one of these as their R3 language. The subject will be assessed at the school level and will be treated as a qualifying requirement, with the marksheet recording students as either ‘qualified’ or ‘not qualified’. Students who fail to qualify in R3 can still be promoted to Class 10 if they meet the remaining promotion requirements. However, they will have to clear the Class 9 third-language assessment while studying in Class 10 and must qualify before appearing for the Class 10 Board examination. Advanced Mathematics and Science Options The new system will provide Class 9 students with the option of taking advanced-level examinations in Mathematics and Science. While all students will appear for the common examinations based on the prescribed syllabus, those interested in studying beyond the standard curriculum can opt for Mathematics Advanced, Science Advanced or both. The advanced examinations will carry 25 marks and have a duration of one hour. They will focus primarily on higher-order thinking skills. Scores from these examinations will not be considered for promotion or included in the overall aggregate. Students who score at least 50 per cent in an advanced examination will have the achievement mentioned on their marksheet. The Directorate has also discontinued the Basic and Standard Mathematics examination structure for Class 9 from 2026-27. The existing system will continue for Class 10 students during the 2026-27 academic year. AI and Computational Thinking to Become Mandatory The revised curriculum also makes Individuals in Society, Art Education, and Physical Education and Well-Being compulsory curricular areas, with assessment conducted at the school level. Computational Thinking and Artificial Intelligence (CT & AI) will initially be introduced through structured modules across schools during 2026-27. The subject is scheduled to become compulsory from the 2027-28 academic session. New Promotion Criteria Under the revised rules, students will need to secure at least 33 per cent separately in internal assessment/practical and external assessment in each of the six core subjects. They will also need to score a minimum of 25 per cent in the annual examination to qualify for promotion. The Directorate will continue to allow grace marks and compartment examinations. Students who fail in up to three of the six core subjects can appear for compartment examinations. Those who do not meet the requirements for either promotion or a compartment examination will be classified as ‘Essential Repeat’ and will have to repeat Class 9. The changes are aimed at bringing Delhi’s school education system in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023, with greater emphasis on competency-based education, vocational skills, multidisciplinary learning and emerging technologies. Source: PTI