The Karnataka High Court has annulled the notification issued by the Department of School Education regarding the scheduling of board exams for Classes 5, 8, 9, and 11.
The Karnataka High Court has annulled the notification issued by the Department of School Education regarding the scheduling of board exams for Classes 5, 8, 9, and 11. Justice Ravi V Hosmani delivered this ruling while hearing the petition filed by the private school association, advocating for the continuation of the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) as mandated by the Right to Education Act (RTE).
Private schools' concerns regarding the potential anxiety and pressure on students due to the introduction of board exams for Classes 5 and 8 were acknowledged by the court, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the CCE framework in schools for inclusivity and holistic development.
In December 2022, the Karnataka government announced the removal of the detention policy and introduced formative and summative assessments for Classes 5 and 8. The Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB) was tasked with conducting annual exams and developing model question papers.
Subsequently, in March 2023, the Karnataka High Court invalidated the state education department's order to conduct board-level exams for Classes 5 and 8, following challenges from various educational organizations.
Initially, despite opposition, the department extended the board exams to Classes 9 and 11, alongside Classes 5 and 8. However, after facing resistance from student groups, private school associations, and others, the Karnataka government ultimately decided to conduct annual exams for these classes starting from 2023-24, reserving board exams solely for Class 10 and 12.
