SSLC, PUC: Education dept plans to conduct two supplementary exams

The Karnataka Education Department is contemplating introducing a second supplementary examination from the ongoing academic year. The supplementary exams are designed for students who were unable to clear the SSLC (Secondary School Leaving Certificate) and second PUC (Pre-University Course) annual examinations.

Until now, the SSLC and PU boards had conducted the supplementary examination within a month after announcing the first set of results, allowing students who failed the regular exams due to unavoidable reasons to attempt a retest. However, statistics revealed that only 75% of the students who failed in the initial stage took advantage of this opportunity, and among them, merely 50% managed to pass the supplementary exam.

The department’s new proposal aims to conduct the supplementary examination a second time, with the objective of helping more students who faced failure in their initial attempts. By doing so, the Education Department hopes to ensure that students’ academic progress is not hampered, and that they are provided with ample opportunities to pursue further education. The plan is to schedule the second supplementary examination within 15 days of declaring the results of the first supplementary examination.

One of the critical aspects of this new system is that it eliminates the wastage of an entire year for students who failed in the supplementary examination. Previously, students were compelled to wait for a year before getting another chance to retake the exam. This proved to be detrimental to their educational journey and, in some cases, led to a significant interruption in their studies. The proposed system is expected to alleviate these concerns and provide a timely opportunity for improvement.

Madhu Bangarappa, the Minister of School Education and Literacy Department, has taken the lead in championing this initiative. He has already instructed higher officials of the department to collaborate with education sector leaders in formulating a comprehensive outline and examination procedures for the two supplementary exams.

However, the Education Department also stresses that students should not take the regular annual exams lightly simply because a second supplementary examination is in the pipeline. The aim is to assist those who face difficulties, not to encourage complacency. Minister Madhu Bangarappa has emphasized that the focus remains on helping students succeed in larger numbers.