To tackle complaints of errors in some question papers of the recently concluded II Pre-University examinations, the Department of the Pre-University Education (DPUE) has decided to introduce proofreading from next year’s examinations.
Speaking at a press conference here on Tuesday, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Tanveer Sait said that the department had eliminated proofreading owing to security reasons all these years. “Normally, only paper setters set the question paper and nobody is allowed to see it. If it gets chosen, it is directly printed and no corrections can be made if there are errors as nobody gets to scrutinise them,” he said.
This year, there have been complaints of errors in English and physics question papers. The department said various committees will decide if students will be awarded grace marks if they have attempted the questions with errors, in case it is an optional question. If it is a compulsory question, all students will be given marks, he said.
Mr. Sait also said that he had written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah seeking a third-party inquiry into how data of 2.5 lakh government school teachers was leaked. This took place after the department had entered into a contract with a private company agreeing to part with data of schoolchildren and their parents as well as government school teachers.
Results to be announced early
The results of II Pre-University examination will be announced in the last week of April, while the results of SSLC examination will be announced in the first week of May.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Tanveer Sait said here on Tuesday that they had already made preparations for evaluation work and the results would be announced early this year.
Schedules of the examinations were advanced this year because of the State Assembly elections. Mr. Sait said 23,000 evaluators will be roped in for the evaluation of II PU answer scripts.
He added that supplementary examination will be held in the last week of May, two months earlier than the previous academic year.
About lecturers threatening to boycott evaluations, he said the government will hold talks with them and if they still go ahead, there is a provision for the government to initiate action against them.
