School board to introduce semester system

Finally, the Punjab School Education Board, Mohali, has decided to introduce semester system in classes XI and XII from the coming session. And following the Central Board of Secondary Education, the PSEB will also introduce internal assessment in all the subjects. This decision was taken in a recent meeting of the board officials.

Dalbir Singh Dhillon, PSEB chairman, said, 8220;We have discussed the modalities of semester system with various school principals and teachers. The first semester will be from April to September and second from October to March. This will enhance the capability of the students. But before its implementation, the staff will be trained to run it smoothly.8221;

He said the PSEB would be the second board in India to start the system, first being the Haryana School Education Board. The system would be introduced in class X from 2010-2011 session, he added.

Notably, two years ago, the CBSE had introduced internal assessment in social studies and mathematics in class X. Dhillon said, 8220;In each subject, 10 marks will be of internal assessment.8221;

Meanwhile, principals are finding it tough to work on the semester system. Shashi Sharma, principal of Everest Model Senior Secondary School, Moti Nagar, said, 8220;It will increase work load of schools, as the exams will have to be conducted twice a year.8221;