Karnataka govt’s decision on scrapping 2nd PU exams draw flak from experts

Karnataka govt’s decision on scrapping 2nd PU exams draw flak from experts

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, June 6, 2021: The state government’s decision to conduct SSLC exams and scrapping the II PUC test has puzzled many and drawn flak from experts.

However, the government’s decision to cancel this examination has triggered another round of anxiety among parents of the 6.75 lakh students eligible to write the exams in 39 subject combinations in all three streams in the state.

This pertains to what kind of criteria will be adopted for admissions to colleges, especially to professional courses such as engineering, medical, law and others.

Education minister Suresh Kumar says the decision was taken after deliberations with all stakeholders. “This may not be the best solution, but it’s the most suitable and taken in the interest of students,” he said.

Sources in the education department said that, unlike the CBSE system which has periodic assessment, the state education system doesn’t have this process. Gradation without exams is possible in CBSE but not here. A source close to S Suresh Kumar said the department had readied the exam timetables for II PUC and SSLC but there was rethinking after Prime Minister Narendra Modi cancelled the Class 12 exams.

Suresh Kumar met former education ministers, cabinet colleagues, council members, DDPIs and academicians. A majority expressed the need for some assessment for SSLC to replace regular tests and it wouldn’t be right to promote children without it.

The source added that the minister felt SSLC students may not be able to make informed choices while opting for courses at the PUC level if there was no exam-based promotion. PUC science students go through competitive tests like CET, JEE or NEET for the next level of education. They, as well as commerce and arts students, are capable of informed decisions.

A few days ago, the minister met the principal secretary, commissioner, SSLC and PUC board directors, among others. Officials said there was no alternative to SSLC exams. Since the state follows a no-detention policy and Class 9 exams were not conducted in 2020, there is no base for gradation. Hence, it was decided to conduct the SSLC exams with multiple choice questions instead of written tests. He directed the board to frame simple questions due to lack of learning caused by the pandemic.

He was also reportedly worried for government school children who would have to take entrance tests of private PU colleges.


Admission criteria
In Karnataka, many prestigious colleges in all streams have now been transformed into deemed universities where the cut off percentage has been only a fraction short of 95 to 100 per cent marks. These institutions also conduct entrance tests of their own prior to first year admission.

Student Naraynan Nambiar’s mother Nayana said that her son had been preparing for the examinations for the last eight to ten months rigorously but cancellation of the exams has triggered anxiety about how he will be assessed.

Nambiar had taken it lightly during the class 11 examinations and even during the online tests conducted in class 12, though he scored 90 per cent despite his lacklustre approach in class 11 and the tests in Class 12. He was hoping to cross 96 to 98 per cent in his final examination this time.

"Cancellation of examination has triggered anxiety in him. He feels that his average will be around 85 per cent. With 85 per cent he will not be able to get admission in the best colleges," she added.


Admissions likely to be based only on CET
Retired principal of a prestigious college, J. Jayalakshmi Patil told IANS that postponing the class 12 exams till August would not have been worthwhile as this would have cost a year in a student’s life.

"That the Karnataka government has given a chance to those ’dissatisfied students’ to write the examinations if a student finds that he or she has not been assessed properly can only be termed as ’fair enough’ in tough times like these," she said.

Meanwhile, after several parents expressed their anxiety, Karnataka Education Minister S. Suresh Kumar appealed to Deputy Chief Minister C N. Ashwath Narayan, who holds the higher education portfolio, to assess the students’ performance based only on their Common Entrance Test (KCET) results instead of the combined scores of Class 12 and CET marks.

In Karnataka the CET test is a must to get admitted to engineering, medical and other UG courses.