By IANS,
New Delhi : The government has introduced mathematics laboratories in schools to improve conceptual understanding and overcome exam-related stress, Minister of State for Human Resource Development M.A.A. Fatmi told parliament Tuesday.
“This is one step forward to expedite corrective measures to deal with examination related stress,” he said.
According to information available, over 5,857 students committed suicide across India in 2006 due to examination related stress.
Fatmi said at the concluding day of the budget session of the Rajya Sabha that practical examinations conducted by schools have also been given more weightage.
“Mathematics labs and more marks for the practical examinations will help students to overcome fear of examinations,” Fatmi added.
The National Curriculum Framework (NCF), 2005 recommends measures like reduction of curriculum load, emphasis on comprehension and application of knowledge and focus on continuous and comprehensive evaluation.
The emphasis is on testing of competency and making examination more flexible, besides counselling in schools, and over all to make learning child-centric, said Fatmi.
He said the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has already taken steps to reduce stress on students due to examination.
The continuous and comprehensive evaluation with marks assigned for internal assessment. “The examination system has been reconstructed to test more of conceptual knowledge and understanding rather than rote memory,” he added.
He said an additional 15 minutes time is given in class 10 and 12 examinations to enable students to read the question papers thoroughly.
The government has also set up examination help-line and made available sample question papers, Fatmi informed the members who wanted to know how the government intended to deal with exám related stress among students.