THE BIHAR SCHOOL EXAMINATION BOARD

THE BIHAR SCHOOL EXAMINATION BOARD

            The Bihar School Examination Board is a statutory body under section 3 of the Bihar School Examination Act - 1952, which is functioning under the Government of Bihar devised to conduct examinations at secondary and senior secondary standards in both government and private schools belonging to the state of Bihar. The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) is a statutory body under the Government of Bihar responsible for conducting examinations at the secondary (Class 10) and senior secondary (Class 12) levels. It also organizes other examinations for state educational and professional qualifications. 

History and background

• Establishment: The BSEB was created under the Bihar School Examination Act of 1952.

• Controversies: The board has faced controversies, including a major examination scandal in 2016 involving cheating and falsified results. In response, the BSEB has implemented strict measures to prevent cheating, such as imposing Section 144 around exam centers, installing CCTVs, and linking student applications with Aadhaar numbers.

Key functions of the BSEB

• Conducting board examinations: The BSEB holds the annual Matric (Class 10) and Intermediate (Class 12) examinations for both government and private schools across the state.

• Prescribing curriculum: The board sets the courses of study, syllabi, and textbooks for its affiliated schools.

• Declaring results: The BSEB announces the board exam results, which are made available on its official websites.

• Conducting other exams: It oversees a range of other examinations, including the Bihar Secondary Teacher Eligibility Test (STET), Diploma in Physical Education, and the Simultala Residential School Entrance Exam.

• Managing admissions: The board uses an Online Facilitation System for Students (OFSS) portal to manage admissions for Class 11.

Primary functions:- The BSEB is primarily responsible for conducting the annual Matric (Class 10) and Intermediate (Class 12) examinations, as well as supplementary exams. It also releases results, prescribes the curriculum, and affiliates schools in Bihar. 

Other examinations:- Beyond the main board exams, the BSEB conducts various other examinations, including the Bihar Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), Simultala Residential School Entrance Examination, and Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed). 

Examination pattern:- The annual board exams typically feature a mix of 50% multiple-choice and 50% subjective questions, with objective questions answered on OMR sheets. For subjects with practicals, the assessment is weighted 70% for theory and 30% for practicals. To pass, students generally need at least 33% in theory subjects and 40% in practicals. 

Digital initiatives and recent updates:- The BSEB has introduced digital initiatives for greater efficiency and transparency. Model papers and syllabi are available online, and results can be accessed through the official website, DigiLocker, and the UMANG App. Security measures like CCTV surveillance have also been implemented to reduce malpractice.