Teachers seek ‘grace’ for SSC students

State teachers want 10 grace marks for ‘tough’ Physics Paper-I

The Telangana government is considering a proposal to give 10 grace marks for the SSC Physics Paper-I exam that was held on Saturday.

Students and teachers said the paper was “extremely tough” and did not follow the blueprint supplied by the SSC Board.

Teachers unions told the government no state-run school would secure 10/10 GPA if the grace marks were not given.

They demanded action against officials in the SSC Board who allowed teachers setting the question paper to deviate from the blueprint.

The unions expressed the fear that the pass percentage in SSC would come down drastically which would not augur well for the Telangana state government which was conducting the exams on its own for the first time.

Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari, said the issue of giving the grace marks was under active consideration. He said the government would take a decision in consultation with SSC Board officials after the exams conclude.

“The question papers show the irresponsible attitude of the SSC Board. Not only Physics Paper-I, even the Maths question papers were tough and departed from the blueprint. How can the Board expect students to solve questions which are of IIT and AIEEE standards,” said Syed Shaukat Ali, coordinator, TS Primary Teachers’ Association.

“They have marred the prospects of SSC students besides causing unnecessary mental agony. We demand that the govern- ment award 10 grace marks in Physics to do justice to students,” he said.

Students complained that in the Physics Paper-I exam, 10 questions carrying half-mark each and seven one-mark questions went over their heads and they could not attempt even one of them.

Teachers said students who are considered to be meritorious took 45 minutes to attempt the 10 halfmark questions, and were not sure if the answers were correct.