A controversy has erupted after the Odisha government decided to provide sample question papers to students ahead of the Class X board examination.
Educationists have cautioned the government that such a move could have detrimental effects on the education system and is not likely to benefit the students. The Board of Secondary Education should avoid experimenting with various approaches that impact the academic career of a student.
The examination is scheduled to begin on February 20 next year.
In its letter to the District Education Officers (DEO) and other officers, the director of secondary education said: “I am to inform you that one set of sample question papers prepared in tune of the existing examination pattern of Annual High School Certificate Examination 2024 in all subjects i.e., Odia, English, Hindi, Sanskrit, Mathematics, Science, Social Science are being sent. The sample question papers will facilitate students of Class X to understand the question pattern and will enable them to prepare for the ensuing Annual HSC Examination 2024.”
The director asked the DEO to share the sample question papers with all headmasters/headmistresses of secondary school.
“You must take follow-up measures so that it reaches the students,” the letter said.
It further asked the DEOs to prepare multiple sets of question papers for the AHSC Examination 2024 utilising the resource teachers available at the district level and share the same with the directorate for further dissemination in the form of a digital repository of question banks.
While the students have welcomed the step, the educationists have issued warnings about the potential far-reaching repercussions.