Testing time for Class IX students

 BHUBANESWAR: To dispel examination phobia, the Board of Secondary Education (BSE) is set to introduce eight standardized tests for Class IX students across the state from this year, contrary to the prevalent practice of just two examinations.

BSE president professor Satyakam Mishra said students will appear for six unit tests besides the prevalent half-yearly and annual examinations. Students promoted to Class IX in April will face the changed examination system. From next year, both Class IX and Class X students will appear for similar tests, he added.

Under the new syllabus, Class IX students will have to study 17 books instead of the current 14. There will be two books each for mathematics, science and social science. The board will make model questions available right at the beginning of the academic year, the BSE president said.

Mishra said after the Right to Education (RTE) was implemented, students till Class VIII study in a very relaxed environment. Though they appear for examinations, they have no fear of failing since the policy ensures that all students are passed. However, when they enter Class IX, it is a stringent setting with tougher courses in three languages besides mathematics, science and social science. Hence they face the unaccustomed stress of examinations. "To remove such fear, the government has decided to conduct six unit tests apart from the already prevalent two examinations," he said.

The BSE president said the unit tests will give students, their parents and teachers a fair idea about the students' standard and provide scope for improving their areas of weakness. Students will be classified high or low achievers according to test results so they are coached and taught accordingly by teachers. Besides, the frequent examinations will ease the undue pressure of the annual examination by keeping them in constant touch with their lessons, Mishra said. Besides, students failing to take the annual examination for unavoidable circumstances can be considered for promotion to Class X on the basis of their performance in other examinations, he added.

A quality assurance cell under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Mission, the Central government project for secondary education, will form the model questions for all schools and give funds for the examinations, Mshra informed. The board has also launched a helpline to provide assistance on telephone or email to clear doubts and confusion of students and teachers about the new pattern of examinations.

Teachers and parents expressed a mixed reaction to the new initiative. Raghunath Sahu, general secretary, Orissa Secondary School Teachers Association said frequent examination is a good step. "It will remove undue pressure for board examination in Class X. But the success of such an initiative will depend on how well the board is able to sustain it," Sahu said.

"Frequent examinations will give rise to intense academic competition, giving rise to more pressure on those who don't perform very well," said Gopal Barik, however, whose daughter is a Class VIII student.