A high-level committee has recommended that grace marks be done away with in SSLC examination but at the same time has suggested the introduction of providing Eligible for Public Service (EPS) certificates for such students who are unable to pass all six subjects.

Holders of these certificates can apply for jobs that require SSLC as eligibility but they cannot pursue higher education.

In its final report, the Karnataka State Education Perspective Plan Committee headed by former DSERT Director D Jagannatha Rao, the panel has suggested that EPS be given to a student - if she or he gets minimum 30 marks in all the subjects, but is unable to get an aggregate of 35 per cent for pass.  The panel has left it for an expert committee to work out the minimum percentage required to be eligible for EPS.

“Many students who fail in the SSLC examination, neither make an effort to continue their education nor take up jobs and they are left nowhere. The EPS system will at least provide a hope for such students to earn a living”, Mr Rao said.

Meanwhile, the panel has suggested the continuation of the present system of having 60 per cent of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) in the SSLC examination. The system would lower student anxiety levels, increase pass percentages, and lower urban –rural score disparities

The committee has recommended certain fine-tuning of the present system.

Firstly, the number of choices per MCQs be increased to five from the present four in order to avoid guess work by the students. Secondly, the evaluation of MCQs be fully computerised in order to quicken the evaluation process.

“The MCQs have many more advantages. They can be machine read, hence entirely reliable and quick results are possible. Copying problems can be minimised through reshuffling the questions. Extensive syllabus coverage is possible due to the brief time needed per question”, the committee said.  The committee had been constituted to formulate a comprehensive education policy for the state for the next ten years.