Following the CBSE and CISCE board, Punjab and Tripura to conduct board exams in a single format next academic year

Punjab and Tripura to conduct board exams in a single format next academic year

Punjab and Tripura boards have decided to follow the footsteps of the CBSE and CISCE boards and conduct the board exams in a single format in the next academic year. The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) and the Tripura Board of Secondary Education (TBSE) have decided to switch back to the old format and conduct just one board exam for both classes 10 and 12 next year. However, board like Goa and Himachal Pradesh have decided to continue with the same format of two-term board exams for another year.

Last year, due to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, many states and central school education boards cancelled the class 10 and 12 board exams. The board had prepared the results based on scores obtained by the students in their previous exams including practical and internal assessments.

To avoid this, many boards including the CBSE, CISCE, PSEB, TBSE etc had decided to bifurcate the format into two terms for the academic year 2021-22. These boards conducted the term 1 board exams in November- December of 2021 while the term 2 exams were organized in April-May. These boards also followed the same format for the question papers- only objective-type questions for Term 1 and a mix of objective and subjective questions for Term 2.

In April, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) decided to restore the same old single-exam format for the 2022-23 session exams. Following the CBSE’s decision, PSEB and TBSE have also decided to restore the old exam format.

Speaking to the media, PSEB Examination Controller Janak Raj Mehrok and TBSE officials said that they will conduct board examinations for all classes based on the old pattern of annual exams next year.

Mehrok told the media that the decision to conduct two exams was taken to factor in uncertainties produced by the pandemic and that now, when the situation is under control, PSEB is in favour of returning to the exam format that was implemented till the year 2019.

Explaining why Goa decided against rollback, the chairman of the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, Bhagirath Shetye, said, “We are going to continue with the two-term format. These are our initial steps towards NEP (National Education Policy 2020) to have a semester system.”

He also added, “The other reason is that in the light of the pandemic, although all our schools are running in full swing, we don’t want to take any risks. Also, to review any policy, we need to see the performance for at least two years. We have seen last year’s performance and we will see it again this year. So this year we will continue (with the two-term examination format).”

The new National Education Policy (NEP) launched in July 2020 advocates for making Board exams easier and conducting them twice a year to take pressure off students. “Boards may over time also develop further viable models of Board Exams that reduce pressure and the coaching culture. Some possibilities include: a system of annual/semester/modular Board Exams could be developed – that each test far less material, and is taken immediately after the corresponding course is taken in school – so that the pressure from exams is better distributed, less intense, and fewer high-stakes across the Secondary Stage…” the NEP 2020 document states.

A senior official with the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE) echoed Mehrok’s views. “Going forward, we will stick to the two-term format because the NEP has recommended it. Moreover, the feedback about holding two exams has been good,” the officer said.