JAC takes baby steps towards modernization

| | Ranchi
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JAC takes baby steps towards modernization

Friday, 19 April 2019 | Saurav Roy | Ranchi

As Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) undergoes an important transition from early adolescence to adulthood, challenges to keep up with the changing trends in the education sector have only escalated. Paper leaks, delayed results, glitches in evaluation of answer sheets, protests and more – JAC also has its share of hurdles from the past to deal with. In a tete-a-tete with The Pioneer, JAC chairperson Arvind Prasad Singh throws light on his modernization plans for the council and efforts that have helped address age old problems. Excerpts:

Q. Paper leaks have been a concern for JAC in the past. How do you plan to address this?

A. Last year paper leaks in class 9 and class 11 examinations were reported. In a bid to address this, we started conducting examinations for class 8, 9 and 11 in the strict process that is followed during matriculation and intermediate examinations. Earlier, the questions were set and sent to the schools. Most of the leaks happened at the school level, so from this year we have done away with the old process and started conducting examinations directly.

Q. Every year several students request for reevaluation of answer sheets pointing at mistakes on the part of the evaluators. How is JAC tackling this problem?

A. We blacklisted several evaluators found guilty of wrongly evaluating answer sheets in 2016. Most of them were blacklisted for three years and the ones found guilty of committing unpardonable mistakes were blacklisted for lifetime. Now, JAC has been conducting regular training sessions for evaluators to ensure such incidents are not reported in future. Also, the process of evaluation now happens under CCTV surveillance.

Q. Apart from addressing paper leaks, what more purpose does the new practice of holding board-like exams for classes 8, 9 and 11 solve?

A. There are a lot of benefits. Let me tell you that JAC is the only board in India that conducts proper, boards-like exams for students of these classes. The exams are conducted under CCTV surveillance at the exam centres where students of classes 10 and 12 usually write their board exams. It makes students more serious about academics and trains them for matriculation and intermediate exams. The pass percentage for class 8 and class 9 students this year was 84.58 and 89.4 respectively. This will reflect in next year’s class 10 results and help us achieve higher pass percentage.

Q. At a time when the government has been focusing on digitalization, what measures is JAC taking to modernize its functioning?

A. Almost everything related to JAC is now available online. Students can check sample papers and answer sheets of toppers on our website. Admit cards too are downloadable now. Reevaluation requests also can be made online through our website. The latest development in digitalization of our system is the use of Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) system in class 8, 9 and 11 examinations. The papers were objective type and evaluated by computers, with minimal manual efforts.

Q.  The class 10 and class 12 results have not been up to the mark in the yesteryears. The average pass percentage still lingers around 50. What is the council doing to improve the results?

A. You cannot compare JAC’s results with that of ICSE and CBSE since our evaluation process is stricter. As I said, we have started taking exams of students in class 8, 9 and 11 to ensure they are serious about studies by the time they are ready to appear for boards. The Government has hired a new set of qualified teachers who are doing a commendable job. The idea is to strengthen the base of the students while there is still time left for boards and I am sure that the initiative will bear fruits. JAC has asked the government to allow class 11 and 12 studies only in schools. Students at this age may get carried away if they get the freedom of studying in colleges. This may hamper their studies.

Q. A majority of students appearing for exams under JAC are from rural background. Do you think it makes your target of achieving better results more challenging?

A. Most of the successful doctors, engineers and IAS officers in the country come from rural background. If the student is sincere and committed, his background will not be able to stop him from tasting success. We know about the potential of students in rural areas and are therefore holding regular coaching for them to ensure the talented ones crack competitive exams. I took charge as the Chairman of JAC on September 15, 2015. A lot of positive changes have happened in the past four years and we expect more in the days to come.

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