Scoring some points

There is much cheer as the PSEB Class XII exam results this year reflect a relative improvement of 3 per cent in the pass percentage (65.97) of students as compared to last year. However, the shine is rubbed off this achievement on two accounts. 

Firstly, this is not the final tally: the results for the vocational courses have not yet been declared as the exams are still going on; also awaited are the results of some schools of Tarn Taran where re-exams are being held as mass copying was detected. Secondly, unlike last year, this time the PSEB has given up to 5 marks to students who failed in two subjects. To discourage this controversial practice, the Ministry of Human Resource Development had in October 2017, advised the various boards against ‘spiking or inflation’ of marks for Classes X and XII in order to improve overall results. The marks moderation policy was allowed only for students on ‘border line’, with the condition it be declared on the website. 

Defending it, the PSEB said the grade marks were necessitated as several reforms were introduced in 2018; external centres for the candidates were established for the first time; online marking was introduced; and question papers were tough.

The board has scored some brownie points, too. Having faced flak for its inability to check cases of cheating over the years, it had installed CCTV cameras in 56 examination centres identified as hypersensitive. Hopefully, from next year, all centres would be equipped to curb such malpractices. Then, keeping the negative feedback for the combined merit list for those ‘with and without sports’ in mind, the board has issued two merit lists.

It now needs to look into some results and take remedial steps. For example, why no students from 13 of the 22 districts has made it to the merit list. Or, why candidates from a Talwandi Rai school had to sit on mats and no benches were available for them. Or, how the other government and aided schools can model their teaching on the path of government-run meritorious schools that had a high pass percentage of over 96. Meanwhile, good luck to the young students poised on career-defining courses.