The Hindu : Kerala News : SSLC IT practical test begins

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 18, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

SSLC IT practical test begins

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, FEB. 17. The IT practical test for the students appearing for the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examination next month began at 1,929 of the 2,652 school centres and at 68 special IT examination centres in different parts of the State today.

It is for the first time that an IT practical examination is being conducted, as part of the SSLC examination.

The examination software had already been installed in 2,265 schools. In 75 schools, the examination was completed on the first day itself. The results of candidates of these centres were copied into CDs.

No hiccups

As many as 4,72,809 students are appearing for the test, which commenced in a smooth manner, despite the controversies associated with it.

Alternative arrangements were made for the practicals in schools that did not have adequate computers. In Brannan High School, Thalassery, where computers were in short supply, the examination was conducted using `Infowheels', the mobile computer laboratory of the KSRTC.

The IT practical examination for the students of the Indian schools in the Sultanate of Oman was completed today.

For candidates in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, the test would begin on Monday. In the schools in the Lakshdweep islands, the examination would be on Monday and Wednesday. The practical examination commenced today in four of the six schools in Mahe.

It was the `Soft-exam' software that was used for conducting the examination. There were six programmes out of which a student was expected to attempt two, each carrying two-and-a-half marks, the maximum marks for the computer practical examination being five.

All the candidates would be covered by February 28, the date on which the IT practical examination is scheduled to end.

The examination was earlier scheduled from February 9. It was postponed in the face of opposition from the Kerala School Teachers' Association (KSTA), one of the largest organisations of teachers in the State.

The KSTA was opposed to the use of a software developed by a private firm for the practical examination and had earlier threatened to boycott it.

The Minister for Education had to hold several rounds of talks with the organisations of teachers, after which it was decided to conduct the examination using a particular software programme, for the current academic year.

Another chance

However, there were a few complaints, mainly raised by the candidates.

But, they were basically of a technical nature. "If any student has not been able to do well owing to technical reasons, another chance will be given to him or her to repeat the test," said Sajan Peter, Secretary, General Education.

The conduct of the test was, by and large, satisfactory. "The test has also served as a confidence booster to the students," Mr. Peter said.

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