Math was always thought to be one of the more difficult subjects for the students. The mathematics paper also gives a lot of pupils a sense of anxiety and fear when they write it. In Karnataka, one of the highest-ranking private school associations was CAMS that wrote a request to the Department of Education to help alleviate or alleviate their fear and help them perform better. They have called on the government to introduce two standalone mathematics exams in SSLC, as were already implemented in the CBSE syllabus.
The Proposal:
The core idea of the proposal is that students should take two maths exams instead of taking one. It will create less of an intimidated environment to work on for children as their brain work shifts to smaller chunks at a time. The change should come from, CAMS said, academic year 2027–28. According to the association, this would help reduce exam fear and increase pupils' performance in mathematics among other things too.
Why Is Mathematics Worth Special Attention?
Mathematics is recognized as the most common subject that leads to failure in SSLC examinations in Karnataka. There are many issues with concepts, formulas, and problem-solving methods that a lot of students have difficulty with. The fear of failing in math creates stress and anxiety, and affects the students' confidence in more common subjects as well. By separating the test into two steps, students will have more chances to demonstrate their understanding and reduce the risk of failing completely.
Learning from CBSE:
There are already two mathematics exams taught in the CBSE curriculum: one for standard mathematics and the other for basic mathematics. Students decide how difficult or complex a piece of it is by their interests and career goals. For instance, it is easier for students who hope to study science and/or engineering to take the standard mathematics equivalent, and for others to take the simple test. CAMS has indicated that state syllabus in Karnataka could also follow such a design, while allowing students to relax and minimize stress.
Benefits of Two Exams:
Two mathematics exams introduced in SSLC offer several benefits:
- Minimized stress: Students will not be weighed down by one large test.
- Better scores: The smaller portions can help you do better in the exams.
- Less failure: Students who are not prepared for advanced concepts can still take the basic exam.
- Confidence building: The more effective they are, the more confident they become.
- It aligns with national standards: CBSE’s model offers commonalities of performance across education systems.
Addressing Student Anxiety:
Examination fear is an important concern in school children that is a very serious concern. Repeated mathematical failures, however, discourage many students and result in a dropout rate if not self-hate to learning. CAMS thinks that instituting two examinations will tackle the problem head on. With less stress, students may concentrate on learning, not worrying about results. Parents and teachers will, too, rally behind the notion because it will make the system work more student friendly.
Implementation Plan:
Should the Education Department accept the proposal, the new system likely would be implemented during the academic year 2027–28. This period gives schools ample time to change the way they are teaching, create new question papers and train teachers. It will also be necessary for a department to develop clear guidelines for conducting the two exams, distributing marks etc and calculating results.
Two mathematics examinations in SSLC are in demand in Karnataka as concern for the stress and failure of Karnataka students is on the rise. The state, in order to learn from the CBSE model, can create a more flexible, supportive system of education for our young people. Mathematics will always be a test subject, but reforms like this allow students to face exams with more confidence and less fear. And if implemented, the change can pave the way for a new era in Karnataka’s education policy, making it possible to evaluate not only knowledge but the possibilities for bettering ourselves on that knowledge.
