India, March 13 -- The school leaving exam, whether it is 10th boards in some states or 12th in others, has been a milestone event in the lives of generations of Indians. Families would go to great lengths to ensure that the child is not distracted, like switching off the TV for the entire year, not taking vacations or not entertaining guests.

But as a parent of a student whose school leaving exams are underway, I am unable to whip up the same level of gravitas, because changes in higher education in recent times have left students, parents and teachers puzzled about the importance of the board exam. The 12th boards were critical because the results would determine which college you got admission to. However, with the introduction of the...