Board exam format for class 9, 11 mooted

The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) is contemplating on providing question papers for the class 9 and 11 exams to get students oriented for the SSC and HSC exams. A proposal to the effect was placed in a meeting of the officials of the state education department and the board on June 4.

Speaking about the proposal, Gangadhar Mhamane, chairman, MSBSHSE, said that as the syllabus pattern till class 8 was prepared by the primary education department, students found it difficult to adjust to the secondary education format after reaching class 9. “As a result of this, many students who are unable to cope get detained by schools that strive to have a 100 per cent result in the SSC. Similarly, students who get admitted to class 11 consider the year a rest year and do not concentrate on studies and hence when they appear for the HSC exams they find it difficult to cope. The state education department decided to address this problem in the meeting held on June 4,” said Mr Mhamane.

He added that after discussing various options it was proposed to prepare the students for the board exams by making them appear for the class 9 and 11 exams on the board exam format. Thus, the board would prepare the question papers for the two classes and schools and junior colleges would conduct the exams accordingly.

“Though the board will provide the question papers, the schools and junior colleges will conduct the exams on the same day and will also assess, moderate the answer sheets and declare the results accordingly,” said Mr Mhamane.

The proposal has met with a mixed reaction from academicians who say that while it will bring uniformity across all state board schools and junior colleges, it will also compel them to conduct the exams as per the schedule set by the MSBSHSE. “Though the examination period in most schools and junior colleges is the same they have the liberty to adjust the timing as per the availability of teachers and classrooms. However, if the board sends the question papers, the schedules for exams of other classes will have to be adjusted to ensure that exams are held at the same time in all schools and junior colleges,” said the principal of a suburban college.