Parents and children are unhappy with the state board exams for classes 5,8 and 9. Experts say these exams are causing extra burden on the students, and affecting their mental health.
Bengaluru: Students fidgeted and twisted the knots on their bags as they anxiously checked their watches, outside their school. Their parents stood next to them, wearing looks of worry in their eyes that matched the children’s nervousness.
Aisha, mother of a class fifth student, said that board exams should not be conducted for fifth grade students as they do not have the capacity to learn everything. She said, “My daughter, Madiha, is in fifth standard, and I am against the idea behind the exams as at this age she is expected to learn so much in less time.”
The Supreme Court had earlier halted the board exams for students in Classes 5, 8, and 9 of state-affiliated institutions on March 12, 2024. The decision had left parents, teachers, and children feeling anxious and confused.
However, Karnataka High Court gave the consent to the State Government to conduct the remaining board exams for classes 5, 8 and 9.
Bharathi A. Paramesh, Principal of Carmel Public School, Kengeri, said, “It was a chaotic situation for me, my staff and the students. We had to plan everything on short notice, from arranging staff meeting to preparing question papers, and that created a lot of confusion.” She also said that parents called the school continuously to check whether the exams will be conducted or not.
Not only parents and staff, but students suffered as well. Bharathi said that due to frequent changes in court’s decision, the students are not interested in giving exams anymore, and they are exhausted. “It shows the inefficiency of the government and their interest towards the public,” she added.
Parents and students standing outside the school.
On the other hand, some students and teachers think that board exams are helpful.
Archana, a class eighth student from Government Medium Primary School (GMPS), Kengeri, said that board exams should be conducted as they will prepare her for the future. She said, “I want to become a police officer, so board exams are just preparing me for tough exams in the future.”
Board exams will help students to carefully review and revise their coursework, said Kumar Swami, invigilator at GMPS. “Going through a course regularly is part of the process of preparing for board exams. This practice strengthens what has been learned and promotes long-term memory retention,” he added.
Nethravathi, a teacher at Kengeri High School, said that students will get adapted to the board structure and pattern in future. The board exams now will help children to take their studies seriously, she added.
Ruchika Judith, a teacher at System for Alternative Schooling and Education (SASE), said that board exams are adding more burden on the students. She also said, “The stress of board exams, along with the social expectations and the anxiety associated with failing, can be harmful to students’ mental health, general well-being and their academic achievement.”
