Following the amendments by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, there seems to be an uncertainty in the students and parents alike regarding the queries about SEE.
Edusanjal in the 90th episode of Edutalk talks to Mr. Ramraj Khakurel, Controller of Examinations of SEE in an attempt to clarify the stupefaction about the preparations for this year’s SEE, assessment criteria, its conduction on a provincial level, among others.
The following write-up is a question-answer between Mr. Ramraj Khakurel, Controller of Examinations of SEE, and Mr. Rajan Koirala, CBO of Edusanjal and Host of Edutalk.
Is the Board shortening the question paper in line with the revised curriculum?
The curriculum has been abbreviated such that the courses have been categorized as to what the teachers will teach and what the students will have to learn on their own. The curriculum and grid have not changed. Therefore, since the question paper will be asked in SEE as determined by the grid, students and parents should prepare for the exam according to the specialization schedule determined by the syllabus. There will be no change in the total marks of the examinations. Apart from the lessons taught by their teachers, the students will have to learn and prepare the rest of the subject matters themselves.
Will the next academic session shrink?
The ministry has amended the regulations by assessing schools’ conditions across the country so that the annual examinations of all levels can be completed within Jestha, and the new academic session can start from Ashadh.
The next academic session will be completed in ten months, and the amendment is made so that students will complete two academic sessions in two years. T
What are the reasons for not allowing SEE to be conducted at the provincial level?
The Education Act has given the right to conduct examinations of classes 10 and 12 to the National Examination Board. Despite such a provision in the Act, School Sector Development Plan (SSDP), an education policy issued by the government, the constitution has made provisions for conducting class 8 examinations at the municipal level, grade 10 examinations at the provincial level, and class 12 examinations at the national level. Based on that, after the final assessment of the schools last year, NEB was on the track of handing the responsibility over to the states.
The issue of giving the states the right to conduct the SEE has been raised. It is in the Education Act that the NEB will conduct the exam. To change the law, the government must go to the ordinance or the house. The Ministry has a provision in Article 20 of the Education Act to issue an order to remove the obstruction. The Council of Ministers will remove the obstacle. Only then, the order would be valid in the Act.
Hence, as this issue is related to the student's future, the Council of Ministers has decided to run SEE from the center so that the students' certificates will not be questioned in the future.
There is no possibility of immediate amendment of the Act by the Council of Ministers. Until the current law is amended, the examinations will be conducted by the National Examination Board. After the issuance of the Act, it will definitely go to the state government.
What are the preparations for this year’s SEE?
The Board is making internal preparations. Exams will be conducted as in the past. The home center will not be established in the upcoming SEE. The District Examination Coordinating Committee will maintain the centers. Examination and answer scripts are also conducted from one district to another, from one state to another.
The students should not be under the illusion that there will be fewer and easier questions. The work of the past continues.
Why could the National Examination Board not give ownership to the Examination Control Office?
The decision of the government is to operate and manage the offices prescribed by the laws of Nepal. Prior to the formation of the National Examination Board, the Examination Control Office was a separate office of the Government of Nepal. After the dissolution of the Higher Secondary Education Board (HSEB) and the formation of the National Examination Board, the NEB was given the authority to formulate the policy for Class 8 and conduct all examination-related programs of Class 10, 11, and 12.
The Examination Control Office remains under the subordination of the National Examination Board. There is no misunderstanding between the National Examination Board and the Examination Control Office.
The only source of income for the board is the fees collected from the students. It was said that the board would bear the revenue and expenditure on various headings, but the government would bear the expenses for conducting class 10 examinations. It is only because of the explanation that the examination control office has to be looked at differently. The government should make arrangements to conduct Class 10 and 12 examinations, and the fees raised by the government should be credited to the revenue account.
Does the new grade apply to this year's SEE?
The Curriculum Development Center has formed a committee chaired by the member of the National Planning Commission to improve the examination. That committee has already submitted its suggestions in time. The recommendation has been sent to the Ministry by the Curriculum Evaluation Council for implementation.
It has been suggested that there should be a system that the students have to clear both theory and practical examinations. Similarly, students are given two subjects as supplementary for grade increments. However, suggestions have surfaced that if the student fails to increase the grade in the supplementary increment examination, arrangements are to be made for giving grade increment examinations for all the subjects next year. The ministry is holding discussions regarding the same.
When will be this year's SEE held?
The SEE of 2077 will be conducted on the first or second week of Jestha 2078. The board will soon make the schedule public. Parents should create a favorable environment for their children. Students should prepare for the exam according to the objectives specified in the syllabus. The specialization schedule of the examination has not been narrowed down. Question papers are being asked from all levels to test knowledge, understanding, and growth.
