Private students rue new PSEB norm

Many candidates not aware that they have to take admission to appear for Board exams.

Several candidates in the state are unaware of the fact that the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) is not allowing any private student to appear in the board examinations from the current academic session.

According to officials,the decision was taken to curb the menace of copying and indiscipline in the examinations. But with the information not being properly disseminated,students are left in the lurch.

It is difficult for me to attend classes,as I have to work. I was not aware of this new rule, said Anoop Singh,a local youth who wanted to take the Class XII exam on old pattern.

Another private aspirant,Seema Rani,a migrant from Uttar Pradesh,said: I left school in Class VIII and thought of appearing as a private candidate. But a teacher told me that I would have to take admission in a school for further studies.

Speaking to Newsline,PSEB Vice-Chairman Suresh Tandon said: We have conveyed the decision to the public through the media. Anyone who is supposed to appear in a Board exam should either get admission in a government school or in any recognised,affiliated,open school or the school which will be associated with PSEB shortly. We want to ask the schools to make the students aware of this norm,so that no one suffers at the end of the semester.

The Board had already asked for applications from non-affiliated schools,the last date for which is May 20. After receiving the applications,these schools will be put under a new category Associated Schools of PSEB,Mohali.

PSEB conducts Board exams for both Classes X and XII. Till last year,around 60,000 students appeared as private candidates in both the categories.

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