Students have every right to know where they went wrong and how they were marked.
The SC order was announced a couple of months ago and it will implement from this
year.
The state education board is set to usher in a more transparent
evaluation system: starting this year, students sitting for the Class X state board
exam and the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) will be able to get a copy of their
corrected answer booklets under the Right To Information (RTI) Act. In the past,
the state board did not entertain RTI applications from students who wished to see
their evaluated papers, but will now have to do so in accordance with an August
2011 SC ruling. Education officials said “a circular has been sent to all city SSC
schools and junior colleges directing faculty to ensure that students are aware
of this new feature. The state board is yet to inform students of the procedure
and deadlines”. “Students have every right to know where they went wrong and how
they were marked. The SC order was announced a couple of months ago and we have
decided to implement it this year itself”, said Ravindra Bhise, divisional secretary
of the state board.
This new rule will also bring in a measure of accountability.
The circular said that “if the board finds fault in the marking process of a paper,
which a student has submitted for revaluation, the examiner and moderator of that
paper will be held responsible”. In August 2011, the SC had announced that any student
aggrieved by the marks awarded to him/her in the exams can now make an application
and have a look at how the marks have been awarded. Principals believe that other
boards, too, should adopt this rule. Though we haven’t been notified by the Council
for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, the ICSE board being a national
board comes under the purview of the RTI Act. Our students should be able to avail
of this feature, said Carl Laurie, principal of Christ Church School. This is a
year of many firsts for the state board, which has announced that the final Science
practical’s for SSC students can be evaluated by the school itself. With a change
in the Science and Math curriculum, the evaluation process for these subjects has
also changed. SSC students will appear for a 60-mark theory (Science) paper at the
examination centre. The remaining 40 marks are divided into 20 mark practicals and
a 20 mark objective type question paper, which will be conducted and evaluated by
the school itself.
As the internal marking for the rest of the subjects is handled
by the school, we decided that even the Science practical’s for Class X students
can be held without the need for an external examiner, said an official from the
state board, Pune. We aim to ensure that students get through the examination season
with as little tension as possible. We are doing everything in our capacity to help
our students; added Bhise. HSC exams will begin on February 21st, while the SSC
examination will start on March 1st. A year of many firsts If the board finds fault
in the marking process of a paper, which a student has submitted for revaluation,
the examiner and moderator will be held responsible The state board has decided
to do away with an external examiner for Science practical’s for only SSC students.
The school itself will be in charge of the evaluation process.
KEY CONCERNS:
With board examinations less than a month away, lakhs of Class X and second year
junior students will be burning both ends of the candle. TOI spoke to officials
to get answers to some of the more frequently asked questions. Here are a few handy
tips that will hold you in good stead:
1. Don’t leave anything to chance :
It helps to visit your exam centre at least a day before your first paper is scheduled.
Most test centres allow students to check their respective class and seating arrangements
a day in advance
2. Don’t panic if you’ve misplaced your hall ticket :
Always remember to make extra copies of the hall ticket issued to you. In case you
lose your original ticket you will still be allowed to sit for the paper. Arrive
at the test centre early and inform the examination centre in-charge, who will then
confirm your details with the state board as well as your school and ensure that
you receive a new ticket as soon as possible.
3. Call the helpline if you can’t reach your test centre :
In the event that you are delayed for any reason during your commute, call the state
boards helpline number. You will be guided to the nearest examination centre, and
will be allowed to sit for the paper at that hall. “This feature has been introduced
in case a candidate gets delayed because of a disaster or crisis. If they can’t
reach their examination centre on time, students can avail of this facility”, said
Sarjerao Jadhav, chairman of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher
Secondary Education. Commuting in Mumbai can be unpredictable on the best of days.
Don’t take any chances and ensure that you leave for your test centre well in advance.
4. Confirm your exam timetable online :
“Always verify the hard copy of the exam timetable with the online version so as
to avoid missing the fine print. Even though most papers are held at the same time
every day, timings may differ with some exams. It is important that students check
the timetable online a day in advance”, said a member of the state board. Last year,
a slight change in the timetable had led to a lot of confusion. The state board
had published the exam schedule at the start of the academic year.
5. Helpline at your service :
“Carry the state board’s helpline numbers as well as your school offices
phone number at all times so you can alert the authorities if you encounter a problem.
Having your own school principal or class teachers contact number handy will be
helpful just in case trouble strikes”, said Fr. Francis Swamy, principal of Holy
Family High School.
Courtesy: Times of India
