Bhubaneswar: Taking into view the gradual reduction of pass rate in the Annual High School Certificate Examination (Matriculation Exams) conducted by the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), Odisha School & Mass Education (S&ME) Department has decided to re-introduce exam system to Class V and Class VIII for screening of the students as well as making them well-equipped.
Talking to media today at the State Secretariat, Odisha School & Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash said, “So far the pass and fail issue is concerned, examination system in the primary schools had been abolished after implementation of RTE (Right to Education). But, our Department has decided to conduct exam in Class V from this academic session.”
He explained, “If the student fails, he/she will be given another chance so that come out successful. Same type of exam will also be done in Class VIII. If the student fails in Class VIII, the student will continue in the same class for another year. No opportunity will be given for promotion to Class IX. This is being done as the crisis is arising in the Matric Exams because the student is unable to equip.”
The S&ME Minister informed, “Yesterday, PTM (Parents Teachers Meet) was held across the State for the first time. Earlier it was held twice in an academic year. I also attended. The experience reveals that the parents have proposed to increase the frequency of PMT instead of twice a year. I have decided to make it quarterly, i.e. four times a year.”
“As per the RTE Act, there was no exam system from Class I to Class VIII. Later on, RTE Act has been amended and the State Governments have been given option for conducting exams if required. In Class V exam, the student will be given another chance for promotion. There is no fail provision. But in Class VIII, the failed student will be detained for another year,” asserted the Odisha S&ME Minister.
