Open book exam format put on hold

Following opposition from parents8217; bodies and the Congress, the Gujarat government on Wednesday decided to put on hold...

Following opposition from parents8217; bodies and the Congress, the Gujarat government on Wednesday decided to put on hold the Gujarat State Secondary and Higher Secondary Board8217;s GSHSEB decision to conduct 8216;open book8217; examinations for Classes VIII, IX and X from the current academic year.

Government spokesman Jay Narayan Vyas said the decision has been put on hold after a comprehensive review. He said school exams will be conducted as per the existing system.

He said the government will consider the idea of an 8216;open book8217; exam system only after seeking the view of educationists, and parents8217; and students8217; bodies across Gujarat in the next three months.

On being asked whether Board Chairman R K Pathak had made a hasty announcement on the new examination system, he said: 8220;I am not here to contradict what Pathak had done or said earlier. The Board is an autonomous body, which can take decisions independently. But, the government is within its right to review it8221;.

Later, in a press statement, State Education Minister Ramanlal Vora said the GSHSEB had on Tuesday sent a proposal to his department about conducting 8216;open book8217; exams in schools. The government will take a decision on whether to accept the Board8217;s recommendations in toto or in part only after seeking the views of academicians, he said.

According to sources though, the education minister had reportedly reprimanded the Board chairman for not taking him into the confidence before taking the decision. Vora was also learnt to have taken up the issue with Chief Minister Narendra Modi at Wednesday8217;s Cabinet meeting.

8216;Bad weather churns out better pilots8217;
AHMEDABAD:8220;Bad weather churns out better pilots,8221; this was what Pathak said on being asked if students would be able to adapt to the 8216;open book8217; examination system. He said the board was an autonomous body, but the government could always review its decisions.

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Rohit Pathak: 8216;A Man of Letters8217;
AHMEDABAD:Rohit Pathak has put the Modi government in a tight spot ever since he announced the 8216;open book8217; system. As the Vadodara Municipal Commissioner, he had ordered the demolition of a dargah in the Walled City area for reportedly easing the flow of traffic, which led to riots. Incidentally, the website, essenceoflifethepoem.org, which has uploaded his poetry, lists him as being awarded twice as the best district development officer by the state government. It also says that Pathak has been conferred with 8220;A Man of Letters8221; award by the International Association of Educators for World Peace IAEW of the UN.

CM wants debate on 8216;open book8217; format
NEW DELHI: It was during a video conference with students and parents on Teachers8217; Day that Modi mooted the idea of an 8220;open book8221; examination format in the state.

Sources say that 8220;the idea should be debated by educationists before the state government formulates a definitive policy on the issue.8221;