Punjab: The “ill-timed” move by the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) to streamline the Class VIII exam process has left hundreds of teachers, both government and private, in a fix. The PSEB has issued directions to school heads to update the registration numbers of students by January 31. Till now, there were separate registration numbers for students appearing for Class V and Class VIII board exams. Under the new directions, if a student has passed Class V from PSEB but has been allotted a new registration number for Class VIII exams, he or she will have to update his or her registration number to the one allotted for Class V exams. The registration process for Class VIII board exams was completed in October-November last year. Around 3 lakh students have registered to appear for Class VIII board exams in the state.
The move comes at a time when pre-board and second term exams are underway, while Class VIII board exams are scheduled to begin on February 19. Teachers have been asked to submit the revised proforma of registration of each student at the PSEB headquarters in Mohali. Not only are the teachers angry with this decision of PSEB at this time, but the parents of the students are also worried. Vikramdev Singh, president of Democratic Teachers Front, Punjab, said, “The board has directed the teachers to submit the forms in person with updated registration numbers by January 31. This should have been planned in advance.” He said, “The aim of the board behind this move is to charge fines from teachers in case the registration numbers are not updated on time.” Ashwani Awasthi, a government school teacher in Amritsar, said that teachers will be fined Rs 500 in case of mistake or delay in updating the registration number. When contacted for comment on the issue, Education Minister Harjot Bains said, “I will get back after getting detailed information on the matter.”
Punjab: Teachers upset over move to update student registration
