Karnataka II PUC exam 2021 cancelled, SSLC exam to be held in July: Major change in SSLC exams

Bengaluru, Jun 4: The uncertainty over the SSLC and PUC examinations in Karnataka has finally been resolved. The State Government has cancelled the II year Pre-University Course (PUC) examinations. The Secondary Schools Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examinations will now be held in the third week of July. State Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar, who announced the State Government’s decisions in Bengaluru on Friday, has said declared that the II PU examinations for the current year will stand cancelled while the SSLC examinations being held in the third week of July will just be a two-day affair. “The decisions have been taken in the best interests of the student community and also to put an end to the confusion,’’ the minister said and made it clear that the present surge in the Covid Second Wave pandemic and the safety of the students and teachers were the main deciding factors. He said, “We have decided to declare the II PUC results of those students who got admitted into II PUC as freshers on the basis of their I PUC marks.’’ The minister said the Education Department will release the guidelines in the coming days. If a student is not satisfied with this result, he/she can appear for the exam which will be conducted after Covid wave is contained.’’ Students who enrolled themselves as private and repeaters can appear for the examinations, which will be conducted in the coming days. Result of the repeaters and private candidates cannot be declared due to the lack of proper records, the minister maintained. Conducting examination in the usual elaborative manner during these troubled times poses lot of risk for the student community, he said and said the lives of students and teachers are most precious for us and their health assumes paramount importance. “However, since we don’t have previous assessment models for these students, it is inevitable for us to somehow evaluate their performance and hence a most simple solution has been formulated,’’ he explained. Major change in SSLC exam – Only one question paper for optional subjects Education minister Suresh Kumar said that SSLC examination for the academic year 2021 will be held in the state. He mentioned that this year, SSLC Examination will be held and the question paper will contain only multiple choice questions. Answer papers will have optical mark readers, he said pointing out that tests for each subject will be for a maximum of 40 marks. OMR-based examination Suresh Kumar said there will be only one question paper containing all the three core subjects, and a total of 120 marks will be given. “This will have Maths, Science and Social Science divided into three parts. Examination would be held for a three-hour duration between 10.30 am and 1.30 on a designated day. A three day gap between each examination would be provided. Similarly, he said for the language examinations 3 subjects of I, II and III languages will be parts of a question paper that totals to 120 marks. Each subject will be for 40 marks. The Examination pattern will be similar to all kinds of students, he said. “We are doubling the examination centers this time. The number of examination centres of 3000 last year will be doubled to 6000 this year and only 100 students will be in each centre. Just 12 students per room would be accommodated and only one student per desk. At least a six feet distance will be maintained between each student,’’ he said. He further said, “We will allow center changes for the hostel/migrant students in the most liberal manner. We will adhere to Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and constant guidance from the health department in conducting these exams.’’ “We will make it mandatory for all teachers involved in examination work to compulsorily get vaccinated for Covid pandemic,’’ he said. “Everyone will be provided N 95 masks,’’ the minister said. No Supplementary Exams this year Suresh Kumar made it clear that there will not be supplementary exams this year. “We will announce the dates of examination 20 days before the exams,’’ he assured. He also said grades will be awarded as A, B and C based on the marks. “We will publish model question paper on our website shortly,’’ he said allaying any doubts about the modalities. (With Input from Daijiworld)