Bhubaneswar, Sept. 7 (UDN): The Odisha government is moving towards a major overhaul of the state’s school examination system by proposing the merger of the Board of Secondary Education (BSE) and the Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE) into a single board for Class 10 and Class 12 examinations.

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School and Mass Education Secretary N Tirumala Nayak said on Monday that the department is preparing a draft law to facilitate the merger.

The proposal follows a directive from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who has asked the department to work towards establishing a common board for both secondary and higher secondary examinations.

Examination Pattern to Remain Unchanged

According to Nayak, the proposed merger will primarily bring the two existing boards under a single administrative framework. There will be no immediate change in the existing examination pattern, he said.

The new arrangement is expected to function along the lines of the CBSE, which conducts examinations for both Class 10 and Class 12 students under one board.

The government has, however, not announced a timeline for implementing the proposed system. The draft legislation will have to be prepared and taken through the necessary approval process before the merger can take effect.

Government Working on Draft Legislation

The School and Mass Education Department is currently working on the legal framework required to bring BSE and CHSE under one authority.

Nayak said the creation of a single board would not pose major challenges in areas such as syllabus preparation or examination management, as the existing academic and examination structures would largely continue.

The merger, if approved, would place Class 10 and Class 12 examinations under a common administrative body, potentially streamlining the state’s school examination system.

Focus on Digital Learning and Competitive Exams

Alongside the proposed board restructuring, the Odisha government is planning to invest around Rs 10 crore in education-related initiatives, with emphasis on digital learning and skill development.

The government is also considering free coaching support for students preparing for competitive examinations such as IIT-JEE and NEET. The initiative is aimed at expanding access to additional academic support and helping students prepare for national-level entrance examinations.

For now, the proposed merger remains at the draft-law stage, and further details—including the name, structure and implementation date of the new board—are expected after the government finalises the legislation.