Semester system scrapped in PSEB-affiliated schools

Punjab education minister Sikander Singh Maluka on Thursday scrapped the semester system introduced three years ago in Classes 9 to 12 in schools affiliated to the Punjab School Education Board. The minister took the decision in a meeting with school board officials at their SAS Nagar office.

Maluka said the semester system had been scrapped on the basis of feedback from educationists across the state and district education officers. “This was also a long-pending demand of many schools. We have observed that students were not performing well due to the semester system. We are also working out the modalities for phasing out the semester system in open schools and reappear cases,” he said.

The semester system was initially introduced for Classes 9 and 11 in 2009 and extended to Classes 10 and 12 a year later. Former PSEB chairman Dr Dalbir Singh Dhillon had introduced this system after consulting educationists, principals, heads of district education departments and other stakeholders.

Now the board will hold the final exams for Classes 10 and 12 in March–April, while schools will conduct their internal exams as usual.

OTHER DECISIONS

Board to revise syllabi on regular basis, include cultural aspects of Punjab and problems like drug abuse, dowry system, traffic congestion and pollution in curriculum

To publish books as per demand and immediately stop bulk purchase of material

Examination duties to be rationalised, made mandatory

Education department to hire part of the board headquarters building for two years