Shimla, March 12 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal Friday said there will be no board examinations for class 8 from the next academic session.

'The government has decided that the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBSE) would not conduct the class VIII examination from the year 2011. This will reduce the stress in the students,' Dhumal said while presenting the budget in the assembly.

'The board examination would be replaced by the school tests which will be based on the principles of continuous comprehensive evaluation,' he said.

The chief minister said the government is also planning to set up an open school for the children belonging to the remote areas.