Lid goes off on open book debate

Six groups debate merits, demerits of open book format at edu dept meet; parents want to know if guides, notes will be allowed during exam; bright students decry proposed system
By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Friday, November 21, 2008 (Ahmedabad Mirror)

Class VIII students of Nirman School take an exam under open book system conducted by AM on an experimental basisA cross-section of stakeholders in the education sector met in Gandhinagar on Thursday to discuss the open book exam format, adding another chapter to the debate that ceases to die down.The education department had invited six groups of participants directly related to education vis-à-vis teachers who have excelled in the fields, representatives of teachers’ associations, representatives of school managements, brilliant students, parents’ association and principals of schools that produce the top most and poorest students.

The meet was the first comprehensive discussion on the issue after the idea was floated in September. Bright students were the most vocal in their disapproval of the new format.

Principal secretary of education department, Hasmukh Adhia, said the government had received a proposal from the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) on the open book format on September 8, which it implemented in classes VIII, IX and X with immediate effect. However, the government found it fit to assess the viability and the pros and cons of the move before introducing it in schools and ordered its withdrawal.

Adhia made a power-point presentation on the issue to highlight the benefits and shortcomings of both the current exam system and the open book format. Education minister Ramanlal Vora and minister of state for education Jaisinh Chauhan attended all the sessions of the meet.

The opinions expressed varied from welcoming the new format, to need for change in textbooks and syllabus to outright rejection of the open book system. Each of the six groups was headed by a group leader from among senior IAS officers who systematised and presented opinion of the group.OUTSTANDING TEACHERSThe teachers group came out strongly for the open book system, but sought a few changes in its implementation.

They suggested that haste in introducing the move would be its undoing. A lot of homework needs to be done on the issue in terms of training teachers, a change in the syllabus, the style of question paper setting, coaching students on how to answer the questions from their understanding of the subject.

Neeta Jani, representative of the teachers’ group, said, “The open book format will reduce copying cases in exams and stress among students. But some issues would have to be addressed, including how a student from the state is received in other states after passing through the open book format.” Of the 20 teachers who participated, 18 supported the new format while two spoke against it.

PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION

Again, the principal favoured the open book system. “The proposed format must be tried out on a pilot-project basis. The experiment must be tested in 500 schools consisting of students from different backgrounds, rural and urban, and different performance levels must be made trained under the system. The result of this could be analysed and the necessary conclusions drawn at the end of the year. That apart, the format must be introduced gradually beginning with class VII, which can be extended to senior classes later. The new format will infuse confidence among students, and reduce stress. However, there is a likelihood of students beginning to trust textbooks more than teachers,” said group leader B V Rama Subbarao. Thirty-two representatives attended the meet, of which 24 favoured the open book format.

SCHOOL AUTHORITIES

The managements said the format was tried out in Palanpur in Gujarat and Nagpur in Maharashtra, but was unsuccessful. The causes of failure need to be looked into in detail. The concerns of bright students also must be addressed, that they stand to lose the edge in such a format. They also suggested the need for a change in the marking system, besides making paper checkers abreast with all the information on a given subject, for a student would be expected to write from his information derived from various books not just the textbook. School exams must be split into semesters and results into grades before introducing the new format. Twenty representatives attended the meet.

BRIGHT STUDENTS

All outstanding students decried the proposed the open book format. They said the solution lies in improving the existing system, not in introducing a new system. Expressing disapproval, students from class XI to medical college said the current syllabus is to blame for students for the state not making the grade in competitive exams like CAT, GRE GMAT. The open book format will not just hurt bright students, it will also make weak students weaker. The system at best can be tried out in schools in some talukas and in some select subjects. More focus is needed on English, GK and instead of an open book system, they felt.
PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION

The new system will reduce the tendency among children to cram study material. It also lower exam stress among them. Some parents, however, suggested that students will stop paying attention in classroom study and rely on textbooks and the brighter ones will suffer. Some also suggested introduction of online exams besides open book system. Most asked the board to spell out what constitutes ‘open book’ ie whether students can take along textbooks, or notes or chits?
PRINCIPALS OF BEST AND WORST SCHOOLS

Principals of the two extremes of schools said the format must be introduced on a pilot basis. Principal of Palanpur school, which had first experimented with the system, said, “We failed because we did not educate teachers and students adequately about the open book system.” Others said bright students will suffer. Yet others wanted to know whether notes and guides would be allowed during exams. Rounding up the debate, Ramanlal Vora said the new format was perhaps acceptable to most of the participants, but would have to be introduced gradually and after examining various issued threadbare. The solution lies in improving the existing system, not in introducing a new system. The current syllabus is to blame for students for the state not making the grade in competitive exams like CAT, GRE GMAT. The open book format will not just hurt bright students, it will also make weak students weaker. —Swati Vyas, a student The open book format will reduce copying cases in exams and stress among students. But some issues would have to be addressed, including how a student from the state is received in other states after passing through the open book format. —Neeta Jani, representative of the teachers’ group