Class 5, 8, 9 results to be declared without disputed exam outcome

In a face-saving act, the department of school education and literacy issued an order to all schools affiliated to the state board to announce the results of classes 5, 8 and 9 based on formative assessments 1,2,3, 4 and summative assessment 1 during academic year 2023-2024.

The order issued Monday will facilitate students to seek admission to the next class. Those who had appeared for classes 5, 8 and 9 and their parents were in a dilemma as the Supreme Court had stayed announcement of results of the board exam conducted by the education department.

The department had issued two circulars to conduct a board exam (summative assessment-2 examination) for classes 5, 8, 9 and 11 students of Karnataka state syllabus. Just five days before the examination was to commence, the high court had quashed these orders citing procedural defects. Karnataka govt filed an appeal against the order and the HC division bench quashed the single-judge bench's order.

The examinations were subsequently conducted and the results were to be announced on April 8. Some unaided private schools approached Supreme Court against the govt's move and the apex court issued an order staying announcement of results till final disposal of the plea.

This resulted in a deadlock as students, in the absence of results, could not take admission to the next class. To preempt a backlash, the commissioner of school education and literacy issued the order asking schools to announce results based on marks obtained by students in formative assessment 1, 2, 3, 4 and summative assessment 1.

Schools received the evaluated answer sheets of the board exam, but the marks obtained by students will not have any bearing on the results. "We can see answer sheets of our students and know how they have performed in the board exam. This will help us conduct a bridge course and remedial teaching," said Veena Patil, headmistress of Govt Primary School, Yemmikeri, Dharwad.

For class 5, four formative assessments for 15 marks each will be done and one summative assessment for 20 marks. For classes 8 and 9, four formative assessment for 10 marks each and two summative assessment for 20 marks each will be done. The formative assessment will be for all activities.