In a significant move aimed at boosting academic performance, the Department of Pre-University Education (PUE) in Karnataka has announced a new initiative for the current academic year. For the first time, the board will conduct two preparatory examinations within the month of January 2024 for second-year pre-university (II PU) students across the state.
A Two-Pronged Strategy for Better Results
The primary objective of this dual-exam model is to substantially improve the final examination pass percentage, particularly in government-run PU colleges. Officials have expressed concern over the consistently lower performance of government institutions compared to their private and aided counterparts. The first preparatory exam is mandatory for all PU colleges, including government, aided, and unaided institutions. The second exam, however, is compulsory only for all government colleges, while being optional for others.
The examination schedule is set as follows: the first preparatory test will be held statewide from January 2 to January 17, 2024. Shortly after, the second preparatory exam will take place from January 19 to January 31, 2024. This condensed timeline is designed to provide students, especially those in government colleges, with more practice and a clearer understanding of the final exam pattern.
Centralized Question Papers: A First for Karnataka PU
Another landmark change introduced this year is the use of centrally prepared question papers for all districts, a first in Karnataka's pre-university system. Previously, the District Deputy Directors of Pre-University Education (DDPUs) were responsible for setting these preparatory papers. Now, the department will create and distribute a uniform question paper for each subject.
Explaining the new logistics, Jayanand Suvarna, Principal of Government PU College in Nalyapadavu and President of the Dakshina Kannada Pre-University Colleges Principals' Association, detailed the process. The centrally prepared papers are shared with the DDPUs of each district, who then distribute them through designated nodal centres to all other PU colleges in their jurisdiction. For the exams starting January 2, there are approximately 21 such nodal centres where question papers are distributed every morning.
Ambitious Targets for Coastal Districts
Sources within the DPUE have revealed that officials have set particularly high goals for certain regions. The DDPUs of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts have been asked to aim for a 100% pass rate in the final exams. For other districts across Karnataka, the target is set at a robust 90%. A blueprint for the question papers has already been issued to guide preparation.
V Rashmi Mahesh, Principal Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy, emphasized the initiative's core mission. She stated that the exercise is specifically designed to improve the pass percentage in government colleges and help students progress smoothly into higher education. The department is essentially replicating a model long followed by many private institutions, which often conduct multiple internal tests, to bring government college performance on par.
This comprehensive overhaul of the preparatory exam process underscores the state government's focused effort to bridge the performance gap between different types of educational institutions and ensure better academic outcomes for all II PU students in Karnataka.
