Consider open-book tests in board exams, don't give grace marks: HRD ministry to education boards

New Delhi: Seen as significant move in the direction of changing assessment pattern in the school exams, the Union Human Resource Development Ministry has urged all the state and central boards to consider the proposal of implementation of open-book tests in secondary- and senior secondary-level examinations. 

According to a report in the Indian Express, School Education Secretary SC Khuntia suggested this at a meeting of 42 education boards on October 28 last year. Consequently, the HRD Ministry has set up an eight-member committee to work on common design of questions papers.

The inclusion of open text-based assessment (or OTBA) in board examinations is one of the key action points of the committee.  

Sanjay Patwa, a representative of the Madhya Pradesh Board, was the first one to suggest OTBA who feels that it could help reduce the influence of coaching institutes. 

The report also says that the government has also proposed the state education boards to avoid giving grace marks to students and prepare a policy for awarding grace marks.