PEC examinations

Question pattern, marks to be fixed next week

The structures and marks distribution of questions for the Primary Examination Completion (PEC) test will be finalised on April 10 after scrapping the present system of multiple choice questions (MCQ), National Academy for Primary Education (NAPE) sources said. The sources said as the primary and mass education ministry has decided to erase the MCQ questions from the PEC test, NAPE has prepared a draft of the new structure and marks distribution for questions in the PEC test. This draft will be discussed at a workshop headed by the secretary of primary and mass education ministry. Different stakeholders including officials from the primary and mass education ministry, department of primary education (DPE), teachers and headmasters of different educational institutions will attend the workshop at DPE in Dhaka at 10 am.

Primary and mass education minister Mostafizur Rahman had formally announced on Tuesday that the MCQ system will be erased from the PEC test in order to curb the leak of question papers.The minister also said the new system will be implemented from the upcoming PEC test in November.

The sudden decision on the new pattern of questions and marks distribution has put students and guardians in a quandary. They complained that there was not much time to prepare for the new pattern.

Students said they had been preparing for the MCQ questions for the upcoming PEC test, but suddenly they came to know that this system would be scrapped.

However, the ministry and NAPE sources claimed that the new pattern would not pose a difficulty for the examinees as they have to go through the whole book of a subject and the questions will be set from their texts.

Under the existing MCQ pattern, there are 10 marks for Bangla, 20 marks for English, 24 marks for mathematics, 50 marks for

Bangladesh and Biswaporichoy, 50 for primary science, and 50 for religion.

“We have already made a draft of question patterns and marks distribution after erasing the MCQ questions. Now opinions of different stakeholders will be taken at a workshop on April 10,” specialist of NAPE Abdul Hye told The Independent yesterday. “It will be finalised on the same day and the full question paper will be uploaded on the NAPE website the next day,” he said.

Hye, however, added that there might be some problems with the framing of the questions for primary science and religion because these subjects have 50 marks for MCQ in each subject. “Opinions will be taken in this regard,” he added.

Asked if the students will be able to prepare themselves for the exams within the short time, he said, “I don’t think it will be a problem. All the questions will be set from the books that the students have been studying.”

Ministry sources said they took the decision after the widespread leak of question papers in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations in February. On April 2, a circular signed by NAPE director general Shah Alam said, “A decision has been taken to formulae 100 per cent competency based questions for the PEC test in 2018 by erasing MCQ. The circular also said NAPE will soon publish the final pattern of questions for PEC on its website www.nape.gov.bd. A day after the circular, the primary and mass education minister announced it formally.

Earlie, on February 18, NAPE issued an order for the question pattern and distribution of marks for the PEC test. Within one-and-a-half month, the government took the decision to scrap MCQ. Sources said the ministry does not want to take any risk of question paper leaks as it happened in the recently concluded SSC examinations when mostly the MCQ were leaked.

PEC examinations

Question pattern, marks to be fixed next week

The structures and marks distribution of questions for the Primary Examination Completion (PEC) test will be finalised on April 10 after scrapping the present system of multiple choice questions (MCQ), National Academy for Primary Education (NAPE) sources said. The sources said as the primary and mass education ministry has decided to erase the MCQ questions from the PEC test, NAPE has prepared a draft of the new structure and marks distribution for questions in the PEC test. This draft will be discussed at a workshop headed by the secretary of primary and mass education ministry. Different stakeholders including officials from the primary and mass education ministry, department of primary education (DPE), teachers and headmasters of different educational institutions will attend the workshop at DPE in Dhaka at 10 am. Primary and mass education minister Mostafizur Rahman had formally announced on Tuesday that the MCQ system will be erased from the PEC test in order to curb the leak of question papers.The minister also said the new system will be implemented from the upcoming PEC test in November. The sudden decision on the new pattern of questions and marks distribution has put students and guardians in a quandary. They complained that there was not much time to prepare for the new pattern. Students said they had been preparing for the MCQ questions for the upcoming PEC test, but suddenly they came to know that this system would be scrapped. However, the ministry and NAPE sources claimed that the new pattern would not pose a difficulty for the examinees as they have to go through the whole book of a subject and the questions will be set from their texts. Under the existing MCQ pattern, there are 10 marks for Bangla, 20 marks for English, 24 marks for mathematics, 50 marks for Bangladesh and Biswaporichoy, 50 for primary science, and 50 for religion. We have already made a draft of question patterns and marks distribution after erasing the MCQ questions. Now opinions of different stakeholders will be taken at a workshop on April 10, specialist of NAPE Abdul Hye told The Independent yesterday. It will be finalised on the same day and the full question paper will be uploaded on the NAPE website the next day, he said. Hye, however, added that there might be some problems with the framing of the questions for primary science and religion because these subjects have 50 marks for MCQ in each subject. Opinions will be taken in this regard, he added. Asked if the students will be able to prepare themselves for the exams within the short time, he said, I dont think it will be a problem. All the questions will be set from the books that the students have been studying. Ministry sources said they took the decision after the widespread leak of question papers in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations in February. On April 2, a circular signed by NAPE director general Shah Alam said, A decision has been taken to formulae 100 per cent competency based questions for the PEC test in 2018 by erasing MCQ. The circular also said NAPE will soon publish the final pattern of questions for PEC on its website www.nape.gov.bd. A day after the circular, the primary and mass education minister announced it formally. Earlie, on February 18, NAPE issued an order for the question pattern and distribution of marks for the PEC test. Within one-and-a-half month, the government took the decision to scrap MCQ. Sources said the ministry does not want to take any risk of question paper leaks as it happened in the recently concluded SSC examinations when mostly the MCQ were leaked.