With state govt rescheduling academic calendar, GSHSEB set to prepone Board exams by at least three weeks
Class 10 and 12 students, gear up for early board examinations in 2021. With Gujarat government’s Primary Education Department rescheduling the academic calendar to match with Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and start the academic year from April, Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) is set to prepone the exam at least by three weeks. This means, the board exams that are scheduled in March every year, will be held in February from 2021, said officials.
GSHSEB is yet to prepare the academic calendar following the education department’s general resolution to start the academic year from April. Till now the academic year started in June. The in-principle decision in this regard has been taken, said officials in know of the development.
Secretary, primary and secondary education, Vinod Rao said that exact dates will be known once board completes the process of finalising its academic calendar. “It is estimated that exams will be preponed by three weeks,” Rao said.
The news of board exams likely to be advanced have garnered mixed response from parents. Some believe that as the entire academic year is being changed and students will get additional days to study, it is good for students who will released early once their exams are conducted.
Swati Shah, a parent of a student said that it is a good move. “If it is advanced by a few weeks, it is fine. Students start preparing for the board exams early anyways and so they still have enough time to cope up with the responsibilities,” she said.
Another parent, Sonal Shah, however said that the issue may create confusion for students after Class 10 exam. “As per the new norm, the academic year will start from April. This means, students who complete their board exam in March tentatively may have to start academics for Class 11 from April. How can a student decide if he wants to opt for science, commerce or arts stream before getting board exam result?” she asked.
Another parent said that the change should be adapted in a way that allows students to complete the syllabus on time and gives students enough time for preparation. “The syllabus should get over by November, so that students can revise syllabus well,” said another parent.
The state government’s primary education department is set to follow academic pattern by CBSE from academic year 2020. More than 1 crore students enrolled in close to 53,500 government, grant-in aid and private schools affiliated to Gujarat board will commence next standard’s academic year from April, against the current practice of commencing new academics in mid-June in primary, secondary and higher secondary schools.
Primary education department has decided to commence academics of the next standard soon after completion of annual exams in March end or first week of April, with academic year for 2020-21 starting on April 20 and summer vacation starting on May 4, 2020 to June 7, 2020. Against the current system of having academic year from June to May, new system will re-schedule the academic year from April to March. The new academic calendar will now help schools get around18-24 more working days for the benefit of students.
Source – Ahmedabad Mirror – 7/2/2020
