PSEB to conduct Class V, VIII board exams at self-centres

Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, October 17

As the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) is going to conduct board examinations for Class V and VIII students in the current academic session, the board has directed district education officers to conduct the examinations at self-centres only. The decision has been taken considering the tender age of students appearing for the examinations that are scheduled to start in February next year.

Reportedly, the PSEB is conducting the board examinations of both classes after a gap of eight years at PSEB-affiliated schools. As the exams are expected to increase the understanding of subjects among students, teachers from other schools would also be present at examination centres to maintain transparency. The board has also sent letters and circulars to school heads to confirm the availability of resources for conducting the examinations in a smooth manner. School heads have been asked to convey the details related to infrastructure and number of students studying in Classes V and VIII.

District Education Officer (DEO) Harvinder Pal Singh said board officials had also specified on formation of self-centres at various schools.

“The board directed that self-centres would not be formed if students appearing for the exams are less than 20 in number. In rural areas, minimum students required for making a self-centre is 70 while for urban areas, the minimum strength is 100. To cope up with the short strength of the students, the schools heads could merge their students with the nearest located school so that the self-centres could be formed at nearest possible location,” the DEO said.

The examinations will be on the lines of Classes X and XII. However, the SCERT is the academic authority up to Class VIII. For Classes IX-XII, the PSEB is the authority. But the exams of Classes V and VIII will be conducted only by the PSEB.

The board has released model test papers for the same on its official website.