Call to cancel SQ method for 2010 SSC exam

A group of guardians yesterday called on the caretaker government to cancel the Structured Question (SQ) method for SSC examinations to be introduced in 2010, saying that most teachers and students are still in the dark about this new pattern of question.
They also suggested introducing the SQ method in class six instead of class nine so that students can be familiar with the new method at the early stage of education.
Only 10 percent of teachers received training on the SQ method and even the new pattern is not included in the new textbooks, said Utpala Bhattacharya, mother of a student of class nine at Ideal School and College, at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters' Unity auditorium.
Selina Akhtar, mother of another student of class nine at Dhanmondi Government Laboratory School, said students are now confused about the new system because they are not getting proper guidelines from teachers or textbooks.
Advocate Abed Raja, convenor of Guardians' Forum, read out a written speech at the press conference.
The SQ method was scheduled to be introduced in 2009, but the government put this back to 2010 in the wake of protests by teachers, students and guardians.
Sources in the education ministry said the introduction of SQ method is a component of a Tk 793-crore Secondary Education Sector Development Project (SESD).
A structured question will ask for several bits of information on a single topic. There will be 60 marks for structured questions, instead of 50 marks as is now customary with essay-type questions.
There will be 40 marks for multiple-choice questions, instead of 50. The new system will not be applicable to English first and second papers and Bangla second paper.