Maharashtra govt-run schools to have three tests in a year

Mumbai, April 10: Three tests will be conducted in an academic year so as to improve the quality of education in state board schools, the Maharashtra government today said.

State education minister Vinod Tawde during the Question Hour in the Legislative Council said of the three tests, one will be on the lines of common board exam.

Tawde said the RTE (Right to Education) Act has been misinterpreted due to which a number of schools have stopped conducting tests. A query was raised by Congress MLC Husnabano Khalife on the "declining" quality of education in government-run school, citing chief reason to be that some schools stopped conducting exams for classes I-VIII as per norms under RTE.

"We are planning to conduct three tests a year. Two would be internal tests and one basic test. This is to understand quality of the education imparted to the students. We will help schools to improve their performance by taking appropriate measures," he said.

The minister also clarified that the schools would be issued instructions in this regard. "The RTE has not said anything about not conducting exams. It has asked not to fail wards and promote them in the next class.

However, it is also mentioned that schools should give additional coaching to weak students. If there is misunderstanding about schools not conducting exams, we will send them instructions," Tawde said.

Khalife also asked about parameters while concluding on quality of education and if the government was planning to re-start the exams. Later, speaking with media, the minister said the basic test announced will be on the lines of board exams and would be common for students of all schools.

PTI