BSE Odisha Class 10 question science paper error calls for immediate reforms

A printing error in the Class X Science Set-C question paper during the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), Odisha, exam on Saturday left students and parents demanding accountability and reforms.

The incident involved students discovering a missing 4-mark question in the subjective section, reducing the total marks from 50 to 46. Subsequently, the mistake was flagged during the exam, with examinees reporting the issue to invigilators, who assured them of relief action.

Board Promises Rectification:

BSE President Srikanta Tarai confirmed the error, attributing it to a printing oversight. “The exam committee will ensure no student is disadvantaged during evaluation. Corrective steps will align with standard guidelines,” he stated.

While the board claimed sealed packets prevented pre-exam checks, Tarai emphasized that fairness in assessment would be prioritised, hinting at possible grace marks or adjusted grading for affected students.

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Parents, Experts Demand Accountability

Parents, meanwhile, criticized the lapse, highlighting the stress it caused. “Such errors shouldn’t haunt students during exams as it causes undue stress on them,” said a parent from Keonjhar. 

Another parent from Cuttack said, “The BSE must take measures to ensure such mistakes do not hamper students’ preparations. It causes panic and nervousness among students.”

Education experts also echoed such concerns and warned against deflecting blame: “The board needs reforms to prevent a recurrence,” said a teacher while another argued, “The printing press should be selected after careful evaluation as thousands of students’ futures depend on a paper.”

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Calls for Systemic Reforms:

The incident has reignited demands for overhauling exam processes. Critics argue that while printers may share faults, the BSE must implement stricter quality checks and the need for post-exam reviews.