Frequent changes in exams and exam patterns by the government leave Class 9, 10, 11, 12 students confused, affect preparations
Appearing for Boards is a scary prospect in itself.
But the frequent changes in exams and exam pat terns is making life tough for students in the city.Parents complain that the frequent flip-flops leave them so confused that they are left incapable to guide their children.
The state government first introduced semester system in 2011 for Class 9 to Class 12, then suddenly abolished it in 2016. Students could gain admission to engineering college on the basis of 60 per cent marks scored in Board exams and 40 per cent marks got in Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) in 2012. Last year, JEE was made optional and GUJCET was introduced. This year now, the Centre has made JEE compulsory for admissions to engineering colleges. From 2011, medical aspirants have been appearing for GUJCET to gain admission. Now, GUJCET has been scrapped and NEET has been made compulsory for admissions from 2017.
Pheni Patel, a Class 12 student (Science) of Tripada Day School says, “Most of us appear for Boards as well as several entrance examinations. However, the government keeps changing its decisions and till the end of the year, we remain clueless about the exams we are supposed to focus on. As such, the semester system is not equally distributed. These frequent changes leaves us in jitters. How can we concentrate on our studies with so many disruptions?“ The government even changed the examination pattern midway, complain students. “The MCQ pattern was convoluted to begin with. We had 100 per cent MCQs in semester 1, then 50% MCQ and 50% subjective in semester 2. We went back to 100% MCQ in semester 3 then 50% MCQ and 50% subjective in semester 4. The government scrapped MCQs in June 2016 and re-introduced in December 2016. It is enough for anyone to pull out their hair,“ Class 12 Science student Dev Patel says.
Students of Class 9 and Class 10 do not have it easy either. The state government introduced exam pattern with 50% MCQ and 50% subjective in 2011and abolished in 2016.
Shubheksha Khare, 14, a Class 9 student of Divine Child International School says, “We will have to work harder than the previous batches as CBSE has made board exam compulsory for Class 10 from coming academic year. Move is a shock for students who were preparing to face CCE.“
Parul Thakkar, whose son studies in Class 10 at St Xavier’s school, Gandhinagar feels helpless. “I have no clarity, how can I guide my son? To avoid such confusions, all students must be made to take one exam across the country.“
School principals also agree that the education policy should be planned in advance, and implemented with as little change as possible.
AG High School Principal Nirav Thakkar says, “Such changes should be implemented in time. It will help students and parents to be mentally prepared.“
Hitendra Trivedi, principal of CN Vidyavihar, feels these changes not only affects students, but the education system as a whole. He explains, “This academic year, the education department scrapped MCQ in Class 11. When the students fared badly in the first test, they re-introduced MCQs. The students, who are already under stress to perform well in exams, come under more pressure due to changing exam pattern. Government should avoid taking short-term decisions and work on having same exam pattern and same promotion rules from Class 1to Class 12 for all streams.“
GSHSEB secretary R I Patel says, “Only court-related matters have been delayed. The government and the education department have taken most decisions on time. These are usually in favour of students so the question of confusion at the end does not arise.“
Changes galore
State board (Class 11and 12 Science)
Semester system introduced in 2011from class 9 to 12. Semester system abolished in 2016.
Admission in engineering colleges on the basis of board marks which accounted to 60% and JEE which accounted to 40% in 2012. JEE was made optional and GUJCET was introduced in 2016. Again, centre made JEE compulsory in admission in engineering colleges from 2017.
Admissions on the basis of GUJCET in medical colleges in 2011. GUJCET was scrapped and NEET was made compulsory from 2017 50% MCQ and 50% subjective in semester 2 and 4. Semester 1and 3 100% MCQ. The MCQ exam pattern was scrapped in June 2016 and was re-introduced in December 2016.
State board (Class 9 and 10)
50% MCQ and 50% subjective was introduced in 2011and was abolished in 2016
Changes in CBSE
Open Book Assessment introduced in March 2014 for class 9 and 11. To be discontinued from 2017 Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluatuion, dual scheme of class 10 began in 2010 where board exams were made optional. CCE to be discontinued and board exams in class 10 to be mandatory from 2017.
Grading system was introduced in 2009. From 2017, marks will be displayed on result sheet along with grades.
Source – Ahmedabad Mirror – 24th February 2017
