Parents object to grading system; Board stands firm

Parents object to grading system; Board stands firm
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, FEB 9
Some of the aggrieved parents have decided to exert pressure for temporary modification of the grading system for SSC, even as the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education refused to bog down to he demand.
The parents are likely to meet this week to chalk out the future course of action over the matter, which will also be placed before the Education Minister Babush Monserrate. 
“We had discussed the issue with the Education Minister earlier, but we were given false hope,” said an aggrieved parent.
The parents, whose children have appeared for the last SSC examination, have urged the Board to relax its 80:20 pattern for this year. In this regard, an official letter was also forwarded to the Government in December, 2010.
As per the grading system 80 percent weightage was given for the Board exam while 20 percent for the first semester and assignments completed within the school.
A parent from Dhempe Higher Secondary School observed, “Students had no idea weightage is given for the first semester and assignments. They worked keeping in mind 100 percent weightage. Hence, we have urged the Board to consider 100 percent weightage for the Board exam for this year.”
The parents said the board should have announced in advance about the 80:20 ratio so that students could study well for the first semester and assignments.
The grading system which was implemented five years ago was applicable only to 8, 9 and eleventh standard students. It was made applicable to SSC and HSSC students from last academic year onwards.
Goa Board, however, maintained objections have been raised by a few parents from higher secondary schools whose students are in the science stream.
Board Chairman Merwyn D’Souza said the demand was from a few parents. “We had informed well in advance about the 80:20 system. There is no possibility of scrapping it for this year because a few parents are making noise,” he asserted.
D’Souza observed students have gone through similar grading for the last five years. “Right from Std VIII grading was done internally by teachers within the school,” he mentioned.