Mixed reaction to tweaking of PU examination pattern

Stakeholders of pre-university education divided over changes to exam pattern: some fear dilution of quality, while others see increased admission to UG courses

While a section of stakeholders of pre-university education oppose tweaking of first and second year pre-university examination pattern on the ground that it will dilute the quality of education, another section feels that the changes will help to increase admission of students to undergraduate courses.

The State government said on Wednesday that from academic year 2023-24 the weightage of 20 marks in the final examination will be for internal assessment in subjects not having practical examination. This will apply to languages, optional subjects in Arts and Commerce streams and to Mathematics in the Science stream.

The theory examination in these subjects will be for 80 marks, while 20 marks of internal assessment has been divided into 10 marks for two unit tests and mid-term examination, and remaining 10 marks for project work and assignments., the government announced.

Chairman of Alva’s Education Foundation, Moodbidri and president of Karnataka Unaided Pre-University College Management Association (KUPMA), M. Mohan Alva, told The Hindu that the government has made the changes hastily without consulting all stakeholders.

“Making changes in education system is a very sensitive matter and requires wide consultation. Without discussing the pros and cons, the government has brought out changes in a hurry,” Dr. Alva said.

Narendra L. Nayak, chariman of Expert Group of Institutions, Mangaluru, and secretary of KUPMA, said the new system will help students to easily clear the examination but it will further dilute the evaluation mechanism.