With the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments at loggerheads over the conduct of the Intermediate examinations, panic is writ large on the faces of the 20 lakh students.
Unlike the SSC, the process for the conduct of Intermediate exam begins in July and ends by December every year. Around 2,000 question papers need to be set, given the various combinations in the form of groups, subjects and media. However, only one-fourth of the process has completed so far, it is learnt. This apart, two papers viz., ‘Ethics and human values’ and ‘Environment education’, will have to be held in December and January respectively.
As the Board of Intermediate Education (BIE) is under the Schedule-X of the AP Reorganisation Act, conduct of common examinations is the only way out. “The Telangana government’s insistence to conduct separate exam in the two states is unconstitutional. It will face the snubbing of the judiciary for such attempts,” argues V. Ravi, General Secretary of AP Government Junior Lecturers Association (APGJLA). As Intermediate marks form the basis for many national entrance tests, it can’t be handled unilaterally,” he pointed out.
The board was formed in 1971 with the passing of the AP Board of Intermediate Education Act, its amendment is possible only with a resolution being passed by both the State legislatures, following Parliament nod. According to Ministry sources, it is essential to bring the BIE out of the Schedule X. Till then, the two States will be considered as Andhra Pradesh only, said a BIE official, requesting anonymity.
When contacted by The Hindu , Principal Secretary (secondary education) Adhar Sinha indicated that both the governments were moving towards hammering out an acceptable solution. “The issue is being positively worked out”, Mr. Sinha told over phone. However, students and parents are jittery over the stalemate.
