From the current academic year, the tens of thousands of students studying in Class 10 need not burn the midnight oil or get stressed over the board exams -- the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 10 examination has been made optional.

Making this announcement here late Monday evening, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters: "The CBSE Class 10 exams are optional from the 2009-10 academic year."

"I have said this earlier too," Sibal said after the 56th meeting of the Central Advisory Board on Education (CABE) here, attended by education ministers and officials from states.

He added that the examination would give way to a grading system and students would be evaluated throughout the year.HRD ministry officials believe this move would help relieve the stress on thousands of students and their families.

Officials said all schools, which have Class 11 and 12, need not conduct the Class 10 exams, but schools with classes up to standard 10 may conduct the board examination.

Under the grading system, students would be given grades like A+, A, B, C, D and E.

Sibal said many state governments were happy about the new system, but they need to evolve a consensus in their respective state assemblies to implement it in their secondary education boards.

The grading system is for the CBSE now and not for the state boards, Sibal said.