Examination Reforms

Report of the Committee on Examination Reforms.
FOREWORD.
The Board of Secondary Education had set up a Committee under my chairmanship to find out the reasons for the sharp decline in the pass percentage in this year’s examination, to identify the factors responsible for the unprecedented fall in the number of privately appearing students who had enrolled for the examination and to suggest the reforms needed to improve the pass percentage. As per the Terms of Reference, the Committee is to submit the report within six months. Accordingly, I am glad to enclose herewith the said report in 20 volumes for further action.
The Committee held discussions with a cross section of students, union leaders, teachers, experts and other interested parties to facilitate in the preparation of the report. The Committee also took this opportunity to visit U.S.A, U.K and some European countries to get a first hand knowledge of the approach adopted abroad in tackling similar issues.
In the course of various meetings and discussions held with experts and stake-holders within and outside the country, it was brought to the notice of the Committee that the examination results were poor because the authorities were strict with the students who indulged in copying during the examinations and took severe action against them under the existing ‘Anti-Copying Act’. Some political leaders have also given written submissions to the Committee stating that the present examination system produced only ‘xerox’ machines capable of reproducing the notes given by the teachers and hence has failed to assess the knowledge level of the students. To improve the results, they have suggested that the present draconian ‘Act’ needs to be replaced with student friendly rules.
The valuable suggestions received from all concerned have been very useful in compiling the report.
Based on the inputs received, and taking into account the ground realities, the Committee has come to the conclusion that there is an urgent need to revise the present examination system which gives weightage to the cramming capacity of a student rather than testing the application of acquired knowledge. Since it would be ‘Utopian’ to have an educational system without tests/examinations, what is needed is to remove the fear of failure which is every student’s nightmare and this can be achieved by making the examination a ‘team event’.
To facilitate the revamping of the system, it is necessary to replace the existing ‘Anti -Copying Act’ with a modified one, and sober rules framed there- under for conducting future examinations. A draft for the proposed modified Act is given at Annexure. Some changes in the definitions of ‘student’, ‘ reference material/guide book’, etc. have also been suggested in the draft to remove any lingering doubts the authorities may have in this regard. Whenever any examination is notified by the Board, it shall be the duty of the concerned authorities to educate the students the facilities provided under the Rules to help them in writing the examination without any tension .
I am sure that the reforms suggested , if accepted and implemented, would give a pleasant, stress free, experience to candidates appearing for an examination and would bring about a better pass percentage. This would also enable the government to attract many students to appear for examinations and achieve the targets set for the literacy drive planned.
The members of the Committee have fully agreed with the Report.
The help and guidance received from various individuals and organisations have been separately acknowledged.
Sd/- Chairman.
ANNEXURE .
‘Copying Act’,1969(Draft)
(An Act to encourage consultations and sharing knowledge among students appearing for the Board Examinations.)
Preamble.
Whereas , of late, it has been recognised that the present system of Board examinations is not serving the purpose for which it is intended ie., of assessing the acquired knowledge level of a student;
Whereas, the need to replace the existing system by a suitable method has been examined and recommended by a Committee of eminent persons after due consultations;
Whereas, the existing procedures have to be amended for the efficient conduct of such examinations to achieve better results as recommended by the Committee;
And whereas, the Committee’s recommendations have been accepted by the government;
Now, therefore, it is enacted as under:
1 Name-Short Title- This Act shall be called the ‘Copying Act’ or the ‘Act of Copying’, whichever is better in the enveloping situation and in the developing circumstances.
Long Title-This Act shall have the appellation -‘An Act to regulate consultations and copying in examinations’.
2.Commencement.- This Act shall come into force on a day to be fixed by the Representatives of students in the respective areas.
3. Extent.- This Act shall extend to all states and union territories where board examinations are conducted for students.
4. Definitions.- In this Act, all words and expressions, except those mentioned below, shall have the meanings assigned to them in Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary.
(a) ‘Student’ means anyone who enters the premises of an educational institution with the intention of appearing for an examination, and excludes those who come to provide administrative and other support in the institution.
(b)’Invigilator’ means any teacher entrusted with the conduct of the examination in a peaceful manner and also includes police officials, para- military or military personnel or other staff deputed specially for the purpose.
(c)’Guide book or material’ means any document, printed or written, which may be in the form of bound books, loose sheets or anything written or drawn on the body or on the dress of a student, but shall not include, transparencies, slides , films etc. used for projecting on a screen.
5. In any Board examination ,every student shall be permitted to bring his/her own guide books or reference material into the hall in addition to pen, pencil etc. In case any student forgets to bring such material, the invigilator shall endeavour to arrange the same, if available, in the library and also provide requisite guidance to the student to clear his doubts. However, the invigilator is not allowed to write the examination on behalf of the student.
6. A student needing additional material from another seated within a reasonable distance, may be permitted to do so, provided the latter agrees to spare the same. In no case, a student who refuses to part with his /her material be forced to do so.
7. Outsiders shall not be allowed to enter the hall to guide the students in copying. However, they may be permitted to help the students in getting the needed material, or to prompt their wards from outside, so long as they do not shout or use mikes.
8. Consultations among the students are permissible, so long as they do not leave their respective seats and , provided further that the noise level does not exceed the prescribed limits.
9. Any student caught writing the examination without referring to any book or material, or not taking any help from friends, etc. is to be treated with suspicion, as he/she may be trying to sabotage the intended reforms . In such a situation, after initially warning the student, a note to this effect shall be made in the concerned answer sheets at the end of the said examination. Further, in subsequent examinations also if he/she persists with the practice, such students shall be expelled.
10.This Act shall not be declared ultra- vires of the Constitution, nor shall it be amended, abridged, abrogated, abandoned or annulled.