Emphasis on Textbook Exercises: While solving exercises from textbooks can reinforce understanding of basic concepts and provide practice, relying solely on them may limit students' ability to think critically and apply knowledge in diverse contexts. It's essential to strike a balance between textbook exercises and activities that promote higher-order thinking skills.

Low Representation of HOTS in Board Exams: If only 2% of questions in the 10th and 12th standard Board exams come from high-order thinking skills, it might indicate a misalignment between the curriculum and the skills required for deeper understanding and application of knowledge. Encouraging HOTS in teaching practices could better prepare students for future academic and professional endeavors.

Content Coverage vs. Depth of Understanding: While it's important to cover the prescribed curriculum comprehensively, focusing solely on content coverage may lead to surface-level understanding. Encouraging inquiry-based learning, problem-solving activities, and projects can help students delve deeper into topics and develop critical thinking skills.

Pedagogical Strategies: Incorporating various teaching strategies such as inquiry-based learning, problem-based learning, cooperative learning, and project-based learning can foster higher-order thinking skills among students. These methods encourage active engagement, critical analysis, and application of knowledge in real-world contexts.

Teacher Training and Support: Teachers play a crucial role in fostering higher-order thinking skills among students. Providing professional development opportunities, resources, and support for teachers to implement innovative teaching strategies can enhance the quality of education and promote deeper learning outcome.

Assessment Practices: Assessments should align with learning objectives and promote the application of knowledge rather than rote memorization. Including questions that require critical thinking, problem-solving, and analysis can better reflect students' understanding and readiness for future challenges.

Overall, while covering the textbook content is important, it's equally essential to promote higher-order thinking skills to prepare students for academic success and lifelong learning. Balancing content coverage with opportunities for inquiry, analysis, and application can lead to a more holistic and effective educational experience.