Jamshedpur, Aug. 7: The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination?s (ICSE) decision to allow students to sit for a single paper in Hindi from 2007 onwards, has created a stir among ICSE-affiliated schools here.

The council, earlier this year, took a decision to club the Hindi language and literature questions into one paper from the year 2007.

The question paper will be three hours long, instead of the present four hours -two hours each for Hindi literature and language subjects.

The school authorities believe that combining the language and literature paper, is not going to reduce pressure on the students.

?The move is primarily aimed at taking off pressure from the examinees. But, at the same time, the council should ideally reduce the portion, or else the students will have to put in the same effort as they have in the existing system,? said Ashu Tiwary, principal of Motilal Nehru Public School.

This issue also came up for discussion during the 18th regional conference of the Association of Schools for Indian School Certificate, held at the Loyola School auditorium on August 6.

The school principals present pointed out the problems teachers and students will face if the portion in Hindi is not curtailed.

Under the present system, students, are required to appear for two papers in Hindi. The Hindi literature and language paper, comprise of a 100 marks each.

While, the examination for both the papers is 80 marks, the remaining 20 marks are earmarked for internal assessments.

However, in the new system, the questions for Hindi literature and language will consist of 40 marks each and will be incorporated in a single paper. The rest of the 20 marks will be allotted for internal assessments.

The principals attending the conference said students appearing for ICSE examinations are currently required to study three books in Hindi literature ? two books for prose and one for poetry.

?When the marks and the duration for the examination are reduced, there should be a curtailment in the portion as well, or else for a 40-mark subject, the students will have to put in the same effort by reading three books on Hindi literature,? said another principal.

Sources said Rita Wilson, the acting chief executive officer of the council,assured the school principals that her department will look into the matter and take necessary measures.

According to sources, Wilson also sought suggestions from the principals, on how to cut down the syllabus, keeping in view the interests of the students.

Wilson also asked the school principals to ensure that all teachers in their school go through the Pupils? Performance Analysis (PPA) report, which is sent by the board every year after the declaration of the results.

The report, available in the form of a booklet, carries a detail analysis of corrected answer scripts of all the subjects, evaluated by examiners with their comments. It is a valuable book the inputs of which can help teachers in the evaluation of answer papers.