Ending the decades-long practice of the Central Board conducting Grade 11 exams, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has decided to permit schools in the country to conduct the examinations from now on.

The national curriculum framework which was endorsed by the Ministry on Friday has ended the provision where the grade 10, 11 and 12 examinations were held by the central board. Under the new system, the grade 12 exams will be held by Central Examination Board at the national level while grade 10 exams will be conducted at the provincial level by the Board itself. The local governments now bear the authority for the grade eight exams.

The new curriculum will be designed for the school-level based on the framework which, according to Minister for Education Giriraj Mani Pokharel, will promote skill based education. The framework has envisioned a single-track education for 11 and 12 grades, ending the extant practice of enroling students in four disciplines of studies— Science, Management, Humanities and Education.

The new provision has increased the numbers of textbooks for grades 11 and 12 from five to seven.

Students will now have to study Nepali, English, Social Studies and Life Skill Education as the compulsory subjects while three other subjects would be optional.

“The current evaluation system too will be changed with the changes in the curriculum,” said Krishna Prasad Kapri, executive director at Curriculum Development Centre. Minister Pokharel said intervention for the improvement of school education is underway from the basic level. The government is presently working to bring all out-of-school children in the school system through enrolment campaign.