Inter exams spark controversy

Board’s decision to use common question paper for both the States attracts criticism

Hyderabad: The conduct of first year intermediate examinations in the two States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana by the Board of Intermediate Examination seems to be heading for a controversy.

The intermediate examinations in both AP and Telangana are scheduled to be held in the month of March 2015. According to official sources, the board is making arrangements to conduct intermediate examinations separately for each State and wants a single question paper for students in both the States. Officials feel that this may not be a practical proposal. They feel both states should have separate question paper. Marks achieved in intermediate carry a weightage of 25 percent in EAMCET. If there are separate question papers for both the States without dividing the board, then it could lead to anomalies and could give scope for more controversy. What if the question paper of one State is easier compared to the other, say experts.

But officials from Telangana say that common question paper could lead to injustice to Telangana students. Where is the guarantee that the question papers will not be manipulated to help AP students, they ask.

However, neutral observers point out that there should be no mutual suspicion. If the jumbling system of question papers is continued, then the scope of bias can be done away with, they say.

Meanwhile, the intermediate board has asked the candidates studying in the two States to apply for the examination before October 10 without late fee and with a late fee of Rs100 by October 17.

Applications can be downloaded from the official website of Board of Intermediate Education.