Bhubaneswar: The change in the question pattern for the annual Plus II examinations as announced by the Odisha government recently has earned criticism from the teachers and the academicians.
Talking to the media on Wednesday, president of the All Odisha 662 Non-Government College Teachers and Employees Association, Golak Nayak said that previously, there were 30 marks of long questions and 70 marks of multiple-choice questions (MCQ). However, the School and Mass Education minister has said that the students will have to answer 50 marks of MCQ this year.
“Keeping the annual examinations in view, the School and Mass Education Department had announced online education and reduced 30 per cent of the syllabus in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the manner in which the Department has changed the question pattern when the annual examination only three months away, it will be very difficult for the students to get used to the new pattern within a short time,” Nayak said.
He further said that the students will not be able to answer the questions properly as the teachers will get less time to teach them in accordance with the changing question patterns. “We fail to understand as to why the state government is in a hurry and why it did not take this decision much earlier to give sufficient time and space for the students and the teachers?” Nayak asked.
Maintaining that the new question pattern will severely affect the future of about 3.5 lakh students, he urged the government to roll back its decision and come up with a fresh notification.
Commenting on the change in the question patterns, well-known academician Kamal Prasad Mahapatra said that while the new question pattern is expected to be easier for the students, the meritorious students will be most affected.
“The new question pattern will enable the average students to secure good marks in the MCQ by answering them through guesswork. Besides, there is a possibility of malpractice as there are no CCTV cameras in all examination centres,” Mahapatra said.
He further said that though the new question pattern will enable students to clear the examinations rather easily, it will have a long-term effect on their future and career as they will not be able to compete properly in the national level entrance examinations for higher studies.
Also Read: Question Paper Pattern For Odisha Plus II Exams Revised, Know Details
