After several incidents of question paper leaks, malpractice and improper question paper format were reported from different districts, the Karnataka State Secondary Examination Board (KSEEB) decided that it will be conducting preparatory exams for class 10 from this year onwards. Until last year, these exams were conducted at the district and taluk level.
This decision comes after teachers appealed to the state to conduct the exams through KSEEB. Earlier, either the schools or district headmasters' associations would set question papers for preparatory exams. On Sunday, the KSEEB has also put up the timetable of the preparatory exams on their website. Exams will begin on February 17 and end on February 24. The questions papers will be distributed through block education officers. The order of the subjects are First Language, Mathematics, Second Language, Third Language, Social Science and Science. February 21 (Saturday) and February 23 (Sunday) are holidays.
The evaluation of answer sheets will be done by the school, however. The details of the number of students from private, government and aided schools following the state syllabus, who will be appearing for the preparatory exams, will be collected by the KSEEB.
