The Andhra Pradesh government had changed the Class X public examination pattern from the current academic year. The state government had already changed the pattern in the last academic year, after a break of two years due to covid.

The government did not conduct the public examination in 2020 and 2022 due to Covid 19 lockdown. However, it had given some relaxation by changing the examination pattern in 2021. The government had dropped four question papers and conducted a public examination for seven papers.

As the pass result was low, the government had also considered the compartmental pass students as regular students considering the lock down. However, from the current academic year, the government has decided to further change the pattern.

The public examination to be held in March 2023 would have, as per the new system, just six question papers for the six subjects. Besides merging the natural science and physical science into one question paper, the government withdrew the Paper I and Paper II pattern. There would only be one paper – Paper I – henceforth for the Class X students.

This pattern would also go with the CBSE pattern, as the state government had affiliated almost 4,000 schools with the CBSE and introduced English medium. The state government had already restructured the schools as per the New Education Policy 2020 of the Central government. The schools now are categorised into six with merger of Anganwadi in the Pre-Primary schools and two-year Intermediate course into High School Plus pattern.

While there is some resistance for the merger of the schools as per the New Education Policy, the restructuring of the Class X public examination is all set to win the hearts of the students. The new system would drop five question papers from the existing pattern and the students would have to write only six papers.

School education authorities in Andhra Pradesh on Saturday postponed declaration of results of class 10 due to a technical problem.

The Board of Secondary Education postponed the results of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination.

Students who have been eagerly waiting for the results were disappointed due to postponement at the last minute. Officials said the results would be declared at 11 a.m. on Monday.

The results were scheduled to be announced at 11 a.m. on Saturday by Education Minister Botsa Satyanarayana. The officials came late to the press conference and it was later announced that the results will be declared on Monday.

Officials attributed the postponement to technical reasons but did not elaborate. Lack of coordination between the office of education minister and Board authorities has reportedly led to the postponement.

More than six lakh children and their parents across the state were waiting for the result.

A total of 6,21,799 students appeared for the exams held at 3,776 centres across the state last month.

The 10th class exams were conducted after a gap of two years. The exams could not be conducted in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19 pandemic and all students were promoted to the next class.

However, some incidents of paper leak and malpractices were reported during the exams. More than two dozen people, including headmasters of government and private-run schools and other employees were arrested.

Chittoor district police had also arrested former minister and founder of Narayana group of institutions P. Narayana in connection with one of the cases of paper leak in which some teachers and employees of a school run by the group were booked. A court, however, ordered Narayana’s release as it was found that he was no longer involved in day to day management of the group.

Though Centre had cancelled CBSE, ICSE Class 10, Class 12 board exams this year and various state governments including neighbouring Telangana cancelled SSC and Inter board exams this year due to Covid-19, the Andhra Pradesh continues to display its stubborn attitude on holding SSC and Inter exams come what may.

AP education minister Adimulapu Suresh on Saturday reiterated that the state government will not cancel SSC and Inter exams like Centre and other state governments and it will hold these exams after Covid situation improves in Andhra Pradesh.

He gave indications that the exams will be held either in July or August depending on the Covid situation.

AP is already one of the worst Covid affected States with over 10,000 Covid positive cases and 100 deaths being reported every day during Covid second wave.

Students, parents and opposition parties are demanding Jagan government to cancel SSC and Inter exams on the ground that if exams are held for over 10 lakh students at this stage, it would lead to huge gathering of students in exam centres and spread of coronavirus besides risking the lives of students and parents.

They question why Jagan government is so adamant on holding these exams when Centre and state governments in other states cancelled Class 10 and Class 12 exams. They are asking is AP not part of India.

The Jaganmohan Reddy Government has postponed the 10th class examinations until July. A further decision would be taken based on the Coronavirus situation at that time. The immediate reason for postponing the exams was the fact that the AP curfew was likely to be extended in June as well. Then, it would be very difficult for the students to reach exam centres. The 10th exams were scheduled to begin on Jun 7 but now the Government had postponed due to the curfew compulsions.

The decision was taken at a review meeting held by the Chief Minister at the Tadepalli residence. Education Minister Adimulapu Suresh was very particular about conducting the exams but the CM finally took the curfew situation into consideration. Contrary to the Government’s expectations, the Covid cases and deaths were still continuing without any major respite.

Moreover, the Government was bogged down due to the cases filed in the High Court of Andhra Pradesh. The petitioners urged for starting the examinations only after completely giving vaccines to all the teachers who would be taking part in the conduct of the examinations.

On its part, the TDP has been strongly demanding the Government to cancel the 10th exams altogether and give pass certificates to the students just like in many other States.