PANAJI
The Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBSHSE) will continue to set the question papers for Grade 9 semester examinations this academic year, too. The move to allow individual schools to prepare their own semester papers remains on hold.
Semester I examinations will commence from October 1 with the English paper, while Semester II examinations are scheduled to begin from March 1, 2027.
The move comes as Goa enters the third year of implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 for Grade 9. The Board had centrally prepared question papers for both semesters during the previous two academic years.
Last year, the Board had decided that schools would set their own Semester II question papers for Grade IX students. However, the decision was later withdrawn on administrative grounds. The same arrangement will continue this year.
"This year also, we are going to set the papers and they will be distributed to all schools," GBSHSE Chairman Bhagirath Shetye told The Goan.
The Board has also decided to review the existing marking scheme after the examinations.
To strengthen examination integrity, the Board has directed all schools to conduct the examinations only in halls where CCTV cameras are installed and operational. Schools without functional surveillance systems have been instructed to install and activate them before the examinations. The Board has also warned that it will carry out surprise inspections during the examination period.
The Board further clarifies that marks for school-assessed subjects-Interdisciplinary Areas, Vocational/NSQF, Art Education and Physical Education will be awarded out of 30 marks for theory and 70 marks for practicals/assignments.
Meanwhile, students representing Goa or India in sports events outside the State or at the international level, who are unable to appear for the examinations as per the schedule, will be allowed to take a supplementary examination after their return.
