Category: General

HYDERABAD: Jumbling system in Intermediate practical examinations is not a practical option, feels the government, and therefore, its implementation may be deferred to the next academic year.

However, a final decision will be taken on Thursday after taking into consideration different arguments, the Minister for Secondary Education K. Pardhasarahi told The Hindu.

He said that though the jumbling system was good, there were lot of practical issues involved in it.

Students and colleges were worried over the quality of lab equipment in the selected colleges and whether the variation in the instruments will lead to difficulty in handling them.

Opposition

Private colleges opposing the jumbling system say that it is unfair to put students under pressure for just one per cent of the total marks, for which they are tested in the practical examinations.

Practical exams account for only 60 marks of the total 1,000 marks, which is six per cent of marks. Out of these six per cent, three per cent are allotted to the theory part in the practical examinations that can be verified and checked in case of any allegation.

In the remaining three per cent, where practical knowledge was tested, students get some marks for attempting the test itself. Some marks are given for the basic information provided about the given test.

“So the actual test is conducted for about 10 marks, which is just one per cent of the total Intermediate examinations. Is it fair to put students under so much pressure for just those few marks is the argument being raised by college managements,” the Minister said.

Mr. Pardhasaradhi also explained the problems that the government colleges will have to face.

With teachers being deputed for conducting practical exams, it would lead to loss of instruction.

“We have already lost several working days due to agitation and the absence of teachers will be felt during this crucial period,” he said.

At the same time, he agreed that jumbling had its advantages as colleges will take laboratory work more seriously.

He reminded that Intermediate teaching was taken seriously after 25 per cent weightage for EAMCET was introduced.

The Minister said that there were also suggestions like constituting teams of retired lecturers to oversee the laboratory work throughout the colleges during the academic period.

“We will examine it seriously to ensure students attend laboratory regularly as their exposure to practical knowledge was must for better understanding,” he said.

The Board of Intermediate Education (BIE) is keen on jumbling system as it would minimise malpractice and encourage laboratory work.

Refuting the criticism that it will be disadvantageous to some sections, the BIE Secretary, G. Balaramaiah has been arguing that failure percentage in practical exams is just 0.03 per cent while only 7.5 p.c. students score full marks.

“So no one is at advantage or disadvantage.”

Source: Hindu

Hyderabad Collector Natarajan Gulzar lists the initiatives taken by him to improve the standard in government schools, in

a chat with J.S. IFTHEKHAR

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Natarajan Gulzar

How do you propose to improve the government schools?

We plan to launch a vigorous three month campaign in 624 primary schools from January 19 to improve the education skills of the students. The idea is no child should leave the primary school without attaining the minimum third standard competency especially in languages and mathematics.

What are the present standards?

They are very poor. Many of the fifth standard children do not have even second standard competency.

How will you go about improving the skills?

Well, to start with, training is being given to 300 teachers, headmasters, deputy educational officers and Mandal resource persons. Further training will be imparted at school complex level on December 30, 31 and January 1. Thereafter, a baseline test will be conducted for all primary school children and basing on the feedback the improvement program will be taken up. After the program ends in March, another test will be conducted in the first week of April to analyse the results.

What about the model schools proposed?

Yes, a circular was issued two days ago for development of 32 schools, two per each Mandal, as model schools.

In what aspects the schools will be developed?

In every aspect. Since all schools can’t be developed at a time, 32 are chosen in the first phase. Needs and deficiencies in the schools are already identified and they will be addressed first.

What are the immediate requirements?

Drinking water facility, proper accommodation, toilets, particularly for girl children and library. Some of the schools don’t have doors and windows.

After attending these problems, we will concentrate on academics. Basing on the performance next year some more schools will be developed as model schools.

Poor accommodation plagues government schools. How will you tackle this?

A massive construction program is already on. We are going to create space for 923 additional class rooms in 142 different locations.

The project is being executed at a cost of Rs. 30 crore under the Rajiv Vidya Mission and it is under different stages of completion. The idea is to reduce dependency on rented buildings.

What about hospitals?

A task force is constituted to monitor the presence of doctors and nurses in the Urban Health Posts.

Presently most of them come late and go early. We will make surprise visits and take action against the guilty.

How will you improve the standard of government hospitals on a par with corporate sector?

There are some problems. First we want to rationalise the posting of doctors but a Government Order in this regard is stuck up.

At present some of the UHPs have no doctors while some are overstaffed.