Panel approves reforms in HSC exam pattern

OST Bureau
Cuttack, Oct 22:

The high level committee of the Board of Secondary Education (BSE) has approved several proposals aimed at reforming the High School Certificate (HSC) examination pattern.

The committee, in a meeting here on Tuesday, approved some of the proposals, including Optical Mark Recognition/Reading (OMR) answer sheets, 50 percent of multiple choice questions and gradation system in place of the existing pass-fail system.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, BSE president Dr Dakshya Prasad Nanda said the proposal of the committee will be implemented from the 2014 session after it is approved by the state government.

It may be mentioned that the BSE, in a symposium in Bhubaneswar in October 3 this year, had come up with a host of proposals on reforms in the HSC examination system. These proposals were discussed threadbare by eminent educationists, senior and former BSE officials, senior bureaucrats and journalists.

The symposium later decided to form a high level committee comprising experts to examine these proposals in detail and submit their recommendations to the state government for approval.

On the other hand, work in the BSE head office here has come to a standstill since the last three weeks in the absence of a secretary.

Sources in the Board said that the state government, in an order on September 30, had appointed Paradip ADM Surjeet Das as the secretary in place of Ramakrushna Sahu.

While Sahu was relieved, Das, who is yet to take up his new posting, has gone on a leave. In his absence, the finance officer of the Board is now officiating as the acting secretary.