The Karnataka government is planning to bring back public examinations for students in classes 7 or 8 starting this year. To facilitate this, the state is amending the Right to Education (RTE) rules, aligning with a decision taken by the central government in 2019.
Background of the Amendment
The move comes as part of efforts to enhance academic standards and accountability in school education. The central government had in 2019 allowed states to conduct public exams for classes 7 and 8, reversing the earlier no-detention policy that had been in place under the RTE Act. Karnataka is now acting on that provision.
Key Details of the Proposed Change
According to sources, the state education department is drafting amendments to the Karnataka RTE Rules. The new rules will permit the conduct of annual public examinations for students in the upper primary grades. The exams are expected to be held at the state level, with common question papers and evaluation standards.
Officials believe this will help identify learning gaps early and improve the quality of education. Parents and teachers have expressed mixed reactions, with some supporting the move for better assessment and others concerned about increased stress on young students.
The government is likely to finalize the amendments soon and implement the exams from the current academic year. Further details on the exam pattern and schedule are expected in the coming weeks.
