After CBSE, Maharashtra State Board now considering open-book exam

As the CBSE board plans to initiate a pilot run of the Open Book Exam OBE for select subjects in Std IX X XI and XII during internal examinations the Maharashtra State Board is also contemplating experimenting with an openbook exam pattern soon as stated by the state board chiefFollowing the lead of the CBSE the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education MSBSHSE has indicated its intention to explore OBE Sharad Gosavi chairman of MSBSHSE mentioned that the board will formulate a plan and implement the pattern in certain schools ldquoWe will analyse the response received from the examination and assess how students performrdquo Gosavi explainedIn his statement on Thursday Gosavi suggested that the state government is seriously considering testing the OBE pattern in state board schools as wellAlso Read Did you know that itrsquos a myth that leopards actively seek out humansldquoWhile no decision has been made yet there have been discussions within the state education circle regarding the potential benefits of this pattern such as enhancing analytical skills among students and discouraging rote learningrdquo said a senior official from the school education department ldquoHowever any decision will only be made after thorough testing and evaluation to ensure it is beneficial for the students Currently there is no concrete decision on this matterrdquo the official addedThe pilot run for OBE will happen exclusively in selected schools during November and December this year It will primarily focus on subjects such as English Mathematics and Science for Std IX and X along with English Mathematics and Biology for Std IX and XII This approach to assessment aligns with the National Curriculum Framework NCF released last yearThe primary objective of this pilot run is to evaluate the time students require to complete such tests and gather feedback from both teachers and students The development and design of the pilot test are slated for completion by June with the CBSE seeking assistance from Delhi University for this undertakingThe openbook concept proposed by the CBSE board has evoked mixed reactions from various stakeholders While some have welcomed the move others have raised concerns regarding its implementationGosavi addressed the press during a briefing on the SSC examination scheduled to commence on Friday March 1 ldquoThe state board will administer the SSC exams from March 1 to March 26 with a staggering 16 lakh students registered to take the tests this yearrdquoldquoAccording to data provided by the state board there has been a noticeable increase in the number of students appearing for SSC exams compared to previous years This rise is because students who passed class VIII from CBSE board schools have now enrolled in state board schools for class IX under the RTE provisionsrdquo Gosavi addedAddressing concerns about potential disruptions due to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections Gosavi assured that the examination and assessment process will proceed unaffectedEmphasising the importance of relying on official sources for examrelated information Gosavi cautioned students against following timetables printed by other organisations He urged students to refer to the state boards website for accurate schedulesGosavi also warned against misbehavior and malpractices during exams ldquoStrict action would be taken against offenders To prevent malpractice and cheating 400 teams have been deployed and students encountering any issues during the examination are encouraged to contact the helpline numbers provided by the divisional board which are accessible via the state boards websiterdquo