Class 5 language, maths scholarship exam ‘above age level’: Teachers

Pune: Maharashtra State Primary Teachers' Committee has raised serious concerns about the difficulty level and structure the state scholarship exam held on Sunday.Its members said several questions in language and mathematics papers were far beyond the cognitive level and prescribed syllabus of Class 5 students, leading to stress and loss of confidence among examinees.
In a formal representation submitted to Maharashtra State Examination Council chairman Nandakumar Bedse and commissioner Mahesh Chothe, the teachers' body cited examples where students had to process lengthy passages containing multiple clauses and solve multi-step mathematical problems that demanded advanced reasoning skills not typically expected at the primary level. Teachers said many students struggled to interpret the questions within the allotted time, indicating a mismatch between the exam design and age-appropriate learning outcomes. Bedse said, "We will take cognisance of the letter and understand what can be done. But, it is not possible to make changes in the exam that has been conducted. The difficulty level was uniform across papers. If any student has scored less, it will be the case for all who took the exam." "The purpose of a scholarship examination is to identify talent, not to discourage children at an early age," said Vijay Kombe, state president of the committee. "When questions become excessively complex for their developmental stage, the exam stops measuring ability and begins testing endurance." The organisation warned that such experiences could negatively affect young learners. Educational psychology emphasises that assessments at an early age should build confidence, strengthen conceptual understanding and encourage curiosity. Instead, teachers observed anxiety, confusion and fear of exams among several students after the test. Kombe said the issue also impacts teachers working in zilla parishad schools, where many institutions ensure full student participation in scholarship exams. "If the difficulty level is not carefully calibrated, it undermines students' morale and the efforts of teachers who prepare them," he added.The committee has urged the examination council to adopt a more scientific approach to paper setting by involving experienced teachers, education experts and educational psychologists.