With the hype over ‘Open book exam’ finally settling down, the scheme has now been reduced to a proposal for a pilot study to be conducted at lower class levels.

The move comes amid opposition by parents and teachers associations and the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) handing over the matter to the Education Department.

Just a few months ago, in September 2008, it was announced that the open book system would be introduced in the exams to be conducted by the Board in March and exams for classes VII and XI in April 2009.

Principal Secretary of the Education Department, Hansmukh Adhia, said, “This year we are not introducing the system in the Board exams. We have decided to first carry out a pilot project in lower standards and see how effective the system is before introducing it in higher grades and the Board exams.”

Adhia said, “There is no definite plan as to when and how and at which places the pilot study will be conducted.”

GSHSEB Director, Rohit Pathak, had earlier announced the introduction of the system in exams for standards VIII, IX and Board from this year.

The decision had become controversial on the next day of the announcement with the Education

Department describing it as a premature decision.

Even as there have been extensive debates over merits and demerits of the system, the decision about its commencement from this year ran into rough weather.

“Now, the decision will have to be taken by the Education Department, as we have finished with our recommendations,” said Exam Secretary Dinesh Patel.