Matric exams may be delayed this year

Bhubaneswar: (Visakeo) This year's Matriculation Examination is likely to be delayed for some time. The exams that are of late being held in February or March are unlikely to begin as scheduled this year, sources said on Sunday. Hit by the former Minister Bishnu Das son's mark-sheet scandal, subsequent strike by employees and arrest of key officials, the State Board of Secondary Education (BSE) is running one month behind schedule. More so, the newly appointed officials to supervise the final school leaving examination are facing a lot of challenges as the tests this time would be conducted under a new set up, the source revealed. "As an alternative of usual 750 marks, the matriculation examination in the State this time would be held for 800 marks for the first time under a new syllabus. Optional papers, which were stopped for over a decade now, have been reintroduced again this year. Besides, at least four of the optional papers have practical examinations. All these new provisions demand a lot of exercise and paper works," said BSE official. Some new provisions, introduced for the first time to make the exam free and fair, is taking a lot of time, the official said. With a view to weeding out bogus candidates from the examinations, the BSE is introducing 'enrolment cards' for the class X students. "The enrolment cards which would have photographs of the students pasted on it along with the name and address of their parents would help identify the bona fide students during the time of examination", he added. Meanwhile, the application forms for the examinations which are now being filled up in different schools have also certain new provisions introduced for the first time. BSE officials however, asserted that the BSE with all the constraints is making a sincere effort to conduct the examination as per schedule in the month of March. "In worst case it may be delayed for a week or so. But we would soon announce the programme", the official said.