Gujarat: Self-financed schools want board exams

AHMEDABAD: The Federation of Self-Financed Schools, Gujarat is of the view that board exams must be conducted for Class X students in Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB).
The federation has in a letter to state education minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama stated if students are given mass promotion, it will create major challenges further on. The letter comes amid a growing clamour from some parents’ associations who are favour of cancellation of Class X board examinations. These associations are seeking mass promotion instead.
One of the issues raised by the federation members is that schools and students will face difficulty in whether to choose science or general stream in Class XI. “As all students will get mass promotion, it will be difficult to determine whether a student is eligible for science or commerce,” said an association member.
Also, there will be challenge for students who are looking to enrol for diploma studies in case of mass promotion, the letter states.
It also cites the possibility of Class XII results being affected down the line if students who are likely to have failed in Class X get promoted to the next class due to mass promotion.
The federation has suggested that the government should look into various options of holding exams, including online exams.
Another option is to hold the exams in MCQ format, once the Covid-19 cases go down. Also, the state education board can conduct exams in schools on the lines of JEE and NEET exams, the letter states.
More than 12 lakh students are expected to take the Class 10 board exams this year, and despite the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE) cancelling exams for these students, the state government has refused to follow suit.
The decision by CBSE to cancel Class 10 exams for 2021 and postpone that for Class 12 was taken at Union education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal’s behest after his review of the Covid-19 situation in the country with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.