Resolution over IPE soon

Hyderabad: Clarity over intermediate public examinations may come in a day or two as both governments had asked the Board of Intermediate Education (BIE) to come up with a solution. So far Telangana and AP governments have adhered to their stands over conducting common and separate examinations.

Telangana wants to conduct separate examinations, but the AP government is insisting for common examination for both the states. The indecision of government has put students in an imbroglio over intermediate public examinations in the March.

“The persistent issue among both the governments is whether they have to conduct single paper or two papers. The AP government says that if separate examinations were held, difficulty in both exams will be different and would give rise to issues on weightage. We have asked the board to come for a solution by November 10,” said a senior official of higher education.

An official of Telangana higher education department opined that though there was delay, examination dates would be the same.

“We do not have too much flexibility on the examination dates as board exams depend on national level exams. So there would not be any changes in the timetable of exams, as delay in exams would affect students preparing for IIT JEE and other entrances,” the department official said.

It is learnt that a file pertaining to bifurcation of the board is still pending with the Telangana Chief Minister’s Office. Sources said that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is likely to sign it in a day or two and send it to the AP government.

Meanwhile, the board has called for tenders for papers. An official of the board said that they called for more number of questions papers as both the governments did not come to a conclusion over the examinations.

“Instead of three sets, six sets of questions would be printed this year. However, the final selection of the set would be made on the day of the examination,” he added.