Ferozepur: A lapse was discovered on Friday in the Class VIII examination conducted by the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB). In the Science paper held on Friday, Punjabi-medium translations of questions 28, 29, and 30 were not printed. The omission caused confusion for Punjabi-medium students. Centre superintendents became aware of the error shortly after the exam began. Many students complained about the lack of Punjabi translations on the question paper. Following this, the board’s academic branch issued instructions to translate the 3 relevant questions from English or Hindi into Punjabi on the spot and have students write them. Upon receiving the order from the PSEB, teachers deployed at the centres translated the questions and made them available to students, ensuring the examination process was not disrupted. However, confusion persisted for some time at several centres. Parents said that such a mistake could increase the mental stress of students in a sensitive matter like the board exams. Teachers also called it a “serious administrative lapse”. They said that while question papers undergo multiple checks before printing, the occurrence of such an error was a matter of concern. The translation process also affected students’ time during the exam. According to PSEB sources, an internal investigation was initiated into the matter. Necessary steps would be taken to fix responsibility and prevent such mistakes in the future, they said. The Class VIII exams are conducted simultaneously across Punjab, in which thousands of students appear. MSID: 128610313 413 |
