Jalandhar: The Science Teachers Association, in an emergency meeting chaired by its State President Harinder Kaur on Thursday, strongly objected to the Punjab School Education Board’s decision to change the exam paper pattern mid-session, reducing the weightage of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) from 40% to 25%. The decision, announced through a board letter dated December 8, 2025, was discussed at length, with members criticizing the move as wrong and detrimental to students’ academic preparation. The association stated that while it is important to strengthen conceptual understanding, implementing such a major change at this stage of the academic session is inappropriate, and that it should be postponed until the start of the next session.
Members stated that the sudden changes, without prior consultation, disrupted teaching plans and put undue pressure on students. A formal representation has been submitted to the PSEB, requesting input from various teachers’ organizations before finalizing any changes to the question paper pattern. The association further demanded that any changes to the exam pattern be accompanied by a clearly defined marking scheme and sample question papers, so that students can align their preparation with the changed format. It further stated that the lack of such measures is causing confusion among students, which could negatively impact their performance in the annual exams and lead to mental stress. Expressing concern over the impact on students’ scores and health, the association urged the board to reconsider its decision and implement the revised exam pattern from the next academic session.
