8.39 lakh to write SSLC exam

The Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB) has started the process of despatching hall tickets for the SSLC exams scheduled to begin on April 2. With less than a month left for the exam, the schools fear that the issuing of hall tickets would be delayed.

Allaying their fear, KSEEB Director D Venkateshaiah said the hall tickets are being distributed in phases. In the first phase, they were posted to schools in Belgaum and Gulbarga on February 29. The hall tickets in the second and the third phases will be posted by March 6 and March 8, he said. Schools in Bangalore are likely to receive them by March 10. “There will be enough time for corrections, if any,” he said.

This year, 8.39 lakh students will write the SSLC exam in 3,002 exam centres across the State. The number of exam centres this year has been increased in order to ensure efficiency in conducting the exam. “There will be a maximum of 350 students per centre,” Venkateshaiah told Deccan Herald.

However, the number of students appearing for the exam this year has come down, compared to last year. In 2011, 8.55 lakh students had taken the exam. “This is because the number of repeaters this year are fewer. Also, during the admissions for class X, there has been a drop in the number by about 10,000,” he said. The KSEEB will also appoint more squad members for the exams.

Schools, on their part are making brisk preparations for the exam. “The third preparatory exam is in progress. The school will conduct one more preparatory exam before students are given a two-week study holiday,” says Abida Begum of Florence School. Revision classes will be held for children who are in need of extra assistance, the teacher said. A few other schools such as the Government School in Chintamani have chosen to conduct revision till the day before the exam. “We will not give any study holiday,” said Srinivas Reddy, a teacher in Chintamani Government School.

Many private institutions conducting coaching classes for underprivileged students are also wrapping up their training sessions. Jayanagar Shaikshanika Samithi in the city has been holding free coaching classes for SSLC students from economically weaker sections, for the past three years.

This year, the Samithi has trained about 1,000 students. More than 70 teachers and 40 volunteers have taken the initiative of coaching students for free. The coaching classes began early in December and are being wrapped up after three months of rigorous training.

Kamalakshamma, a teacher in a government college at Kolar, said such coaching sessions are crucial for students as it helps them understand how to write the exam and what is expected of them.

ISC exam timing changed

The timing of two papers in the ongoing Indian School Certificate (ISC) class XII examination has been changed.

Physics paper-I (theory) and History paper exam will now start 15 minutes later than originally scheduled, the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), which conducts the exam, has stated.

The Physics-I (theory) exam will be held on Monday - March 12 as scheduled, but the question paper will be distributed at 2 pm, instead of 1.45 pm.

The History exam will be held on Wednesday - March 21 as scheduled, but the question paper will be distributed at 2 pm, instead of 1.45 pm.