Anger and frustration was palpable on the faces of parents of class XI science gathered on Monday to protest against the tough chemistry paper in the first ever semester system exam.

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They protested that the questions in the paper came from outside the syllabus causing loss of marks to students. They wanted the state education department to give back charge of the class XI science exam to schools like it was earlier.

A group of parents said that Sudhir Mankad Committee had suggested the semester system exam to reduce burden on students but the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board's (GSHSEB) move to have tough questions from outside syllabus is torturing students. While half the parents demanded re-test for the chemistry paper, the others said the education department should give the students grace marks to make up for their blunder of around 20 marks. 

Dr Sanjay Vyas, one of the parents gathered at the Dada Saheb na Pagla, said that there is a norm that 75% of questions should be from textbook. "How can they flout the norms and harass students like this The board is playing with students' future?" said he.

Another parent, Dr Karan Vyas, said that this is the first semester exam for students and books had come late reducing the preparation time available.

"We challenge board officials and education minister to tell us from which page they have asked questions worth 20 marks in chemistry paper. Such mistakes will make students commit suicide even as the semester system was implemented to lift the examination pressure. Officials need to introspect, if semester system is serving the purpose," said Rajesh Rawal.

"We are not here to beg the government; students should get what they deserve. The board will not be able to give more than five grace marks to students and so they should hold re-test for chemistry," said an agitated parent Augustine Macwan.