Bengaluru: In a significant move, the Karnataka government has canceled board examinations for students of classes 5, 8, 9, and 11 in schools affiliated with the State Board, in compliance with a Supreme Court directive. School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa made the announcement on Friday, referencing the Supreme Court’s ruling that the exams violated the Right to Education Act.
Moving forward, students in classes 5, 8, and 9 will be assessed through Summative Assessment-2 (SA-2), while class 11 students will face an annual examination. This comes after the Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board introduced board exams in the 2023-24 academic year, replacing the SA-2 assessments, which sparked controversy and legal battles.
The exams, held in March despite opposition from private school associations, were legally challenged, eventually leading to a Supreme Court ruling in April. The court expressed concerns that board exams for students up to class 8 violated key provisions of the Right to Education Act, leading to the cancellation.
Minister Bangarappa confirmed that the state has withheld the results from the already conducted exams, rescinded the related orders, and submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court. He emphasized that the state would fully comply with the final ruling.
This decision marks a significant shift in Karnataka’s educational assessment policy, aiming to align with national education standards while addressing concerns over student anxiety and stress associated with board exams.
