J-K board looks to reform its old style examination system
If all goes well, the J&K Board of School Education (BOSE) would completely transform its existing syllabi and scheme of question papers for the 10th and 12th class examinations. The move is aimed at re-structuring of examination system and merging the practical portion of exams with the theory papers by amending the weightage and pattern of question papers.
The orders in this regard have been issued by the then Principal Secretary School education department in March this year wherein it is ordered that comprehensive review of the marking scheme of science subjects shall be carried out and the same shall be re-structured such that practical knowledge is preferably assessed through theory paper by appropriately framing question for the purpose.
“While at the same time, participation in practical and final practical examination will continue as necessary eligibility but it would only be of qualifying nature,” reads the order issued by the then Principal Secretary Shalin Kabra. The order reads that the present structure of bifurcation of the science papers into theory and practical examination has failed to yield the desired results.
“The marks allotted for the practical examination are not being awarded in a transparent manner that infuses confidence in the fairness of the system,” reads the order. In the back drop of this order, JK BOSE on Saturday held a daylong workshop to work out the modalities to amend the pattern, scheme and weightage of questions in the paper.
BOSE invited scores of subject experts from school education department and were tasked to frame an action plan for redesigning of question papers wherein 30 percent practical marks will be included in the theory part consisting of only 70 percent marks in a particular subject.
“We have to redesign the question paper in such a way that practical marks are clubbed with theory part,” Chairman BOSE, Zahoor Ahmad Chatt said during the workshop. Chatt said the upcoming BOSE annual exams for class 10 and 12 will be conducted on pattern of amended scheme and weightage of questions.
Defending the government decision to include practical marks in theory part he said there does not exist any correlation between practical marks obtained by students and JEE marks obtained while attempting the exams.
“It has also been observed that performance of the students during the course of national level exams competitive exams conducted at national level like JEE is not good. Students from J&K are not in position to transform their practical knowledge which they acquire during the course of doing practical in the laboratories. They fail in conducting or attempting those questions involving practical problems,” Chatt said.
He said another aspect of practical exams was that some students having association with any of the departments would get undue marks in practical exams as compared to theory exams while as under privileged could not avail the facility to fetch maximum marks in practical part of the exams.
“After the merging of practical portion in theory part of the question paper, practical exercise is to be done by students during their stay in the schools generously. Participation of students as done in past shall continue,” he said.
Chatt said the participation of students in practical at school level has to be evaluated by teacher concerned as per the routine as it shall act as his eligibility to sit in annual exams. “Any student who does not pass practical exams at institutional level shall not be eligible in theory exams,” he said.
KV Correspondent
