Bengaluru: The education experts and parents have strongly opposed the proposal of open book exam system for the primary students by the Primary and Secondary Education Department in the state.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister N. Mahesh had pitched arguments again with his statement that the government is considering the introduction of open book exam for the students from Class 1 to Class 5. However, it is analyzed that exams are conducted for primary students to test their level of learning capabilities. If the open book exam is introduced, there would be no difference between copying and an exam.

Moreover, the experts questioned that the proposed system is nowhere in the country and why it is being tried in the state? “The open book test is conducted in the higher education. There though they refer to the books, marks will be given on the basis of the style of narration, analysis. It is not suitable for the primary education”.

According to Education Expert, Dr. V P Niranjanaradhya, “Open book exam is not suitable for the primary education. In the school-level importance is being given for meditation. It is not good to implement the proposed system.”

However, the minister opines, “If children are allowed to refer the textbooks during the class tests they will tend to read the books. It would help them to face the final exam.”