BENGALURU: The Department of Pre-University Education is thinking of introducing public examinations for first year PU course from the next academic year.
Confirming the move, PUE department sources told Express, “There is a discussion going on in this regard, and the intention behind this is to prepare students to face second PU exams and other competitive exams like the Common Entrance Test (CET).”
According to the officials, the plan is to conduct public examinations by setting the question paper at the central level and holding the evaluation at the inter-district level.
“It would be difficult to get evaluators if we conduct centralised evaluation. So, the plan is to conduct evaluation at inter-district levels,” said a source.
However, the proposal is being opposed by child rights activists, parents and teachers also.
Nagasimha G Rao, a child rights activist, told Express, “I wonder why they’re experimenting on students. Imagine the mental state of students if they face public examinations for three years continuously.”
“The Right to Education (RTE) Act mentions free and compulsory education to all children of India in the 6 to 14 age group. Following that, we bring students up to Class 8 without conducting exams, and all of a sudden if you make them take up public exams for three years, where should they go?” he asked.
Dr B S Jayashree, faculty at Vijaya College, said, “Already parents are placing too much pressure on children to prepare them for Class 10 and 12 public exams. If first PU also becomes a public exam, imagine their situation. They too need a break, mentally.”
‘Bad Idea’
“Introducing public exams for I PU is definitely a bad idea. Students are already stressed when trying to jump from Class 10 to 1 PU and preparing for a pressure cooker situation in 2 PU with a board exam and over a dozen competitive exams. Another board exam in 1 PU is only going to add unwanted stress on the students. I hope these issues are brought up for debate,” said Dr Sridhar G, managing director of Ace Creative Learning.