Teachers of English subject from English medium schools were disappointed with the mistakes they found in English first language question paper as well as in second and third language this year Secondary School Certificate Board examination. They claim the level of the paper setting of English language was very poor this year.
In English Ist language paper of English medium students, there is one printing mistake in grammar sentence of question direct and indirect speech, that is instead of the word 'don't' they wrote 'donts' in a sentence. According to teachers of English subject, there were quite a few mistakes in the question paper of English II and III language also.
Maria Pinto (name changed) English language teacher, said, "We have been informed anybody who attempts that question give them one mark. Not just this even the answer key that we use to correct the students answer paper, there were mistakes. In one of our group of teachers on social media, teachers were asking correct answer as answer mentioned in answer keys were not correct. This time the level of paper setting is very poor."
There is one five mark question in English first language in letter writing section, 'write a letter to somebody who is wanting to rent a house'. Till date in the syllabus of grade VIII, IX and X students never got such question like a house for rent. Students were not even given an option to that question, many did not attempt that question because it is not their level of question. This showed that paper set was not up to the mark claim city schools teachers.
Another English subject teacher, said, "Children were not connected with the writing task topics like asking to write an application for rented house. It was not their area of expertise. Which child deal with a rented house or look for a rented house at this age? The question should have been complaining about street dogs etc."
Shakuntala Kale, Chairperson, Maharashtra State Board of Secondary Higher Secondary Education, Pune, said, "During the paper examination by moderators, meetings are held from time to time. Nobody has brought to my notice about the mistake or out of syllabus question yet."