BANGALORE: The Government will introduce the new pattern of question papers for the SSLC examination to be held in March 2006 only after it is thoroughly reviewed as desired by the members of the House, the Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, R. Ramalinga Reddy, assured the Legislative Council on Tuesday.

Replying to S. Ravi, the Minister said that candidates appearing for the SSLC examination in March 2006 have to answer two types of questions in all subjects. They are expected to answer objective questions that form 60 per cent of the total marks and write general answers for the rest in all the core subjects such as mathematics, science and social science.

Students have to answer objective questions for 63 marks and write general answer for 62 marks (50 per cent in each pattern) in the first language paper, which carries 125 marks. The same method (50 per cent in each pattern) is also applicable to the second and the third language papers of 100 marks each.

The objective of introducing the new pattern is to prepare candidates for competitive examinations in future, he explained.

Expressing his concern over the new pattern of question papers, K. Balakrishna Bhat of the Bharatiya Janata Party said that it would encourage mass copying.

Supporting him, Mukhyamantri Chandru (BJP) said that the new pattern might encourage students ignore the art of writing as they need not write much.

Disagreeing with Mr. Chandru, L. Hanumanthaiah of the Congress said students have to do a lot of writing work at home before facing the examinations. He also asserted that the new pattern has nothing to do with mass copying.

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