Maharashtra chooses 50-50 model for SSC results

Teachers’ associations have asked how all Std X students can be evaluated based on internal assessment when online education hasn’t reached many of them. Representation pic

A resolution finally brings relief to lakhs of anxious Std X students, who had been awaiting clarity on assessment after their board exams were cancelled owing to Covid-19. The state government on Friday announced that performance of both Std IX and Std X will be combined for this academic year's SSC result. Students will be promoted on the basis of their evaluation which will include internal assessment of their performance in Std X and the result of Std IX.

Fifty per cent of the marks for each subject will be based on Std X evaluation and the remaining 50 per cent on Std IX result. According to the data collected by the State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT), schools have conducted internal assessments of Std X students in a remote learning process. For the Std X assessment, internal exams will hold 30 per cent marks weightage and oral exams and home assignments will have the remaining 20 per cent weightage.

Also Read: Maharashtra announces common exam for Std X passouts

"It is important to note that the Std IX assessment of these students was completed properly before the Covid-19 outbreak. The government database, too, has each student's subject-wise marks obtained in Std IX. If any candidate is unhappy with the result, he/she will have an opportunity to improve the score later. These candidates will be given enrolment chances to appear for regular board exams to be held post-normalcy," said state School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad.

Candidates who are not happy with their result, when it is out, can appear for regular board exams to be held after normalcy, says state education minister. Representation pic

She added that several punitive measures have also been decided in case any school is caught indulging in malpractices, considering the SSC result is based on internal assessment. This will include a fine as well as administrative action against the school. While students and parents were relieved, teachers' associations have asked how all Std X students can be evaluated based on internal assessment when online education hasn't reached many of them.

Shivnath Darade from Maharashtra Rajya Shikshak Parishad said, "Online education hasn't reached all and it has been reiterated multiple times. They [the govt] should have consulted ground-level teachers to know the reality. Schools submit acceptable data in order to avoid any consequences."

Mumbai School Principals Association Secretary Pandurang Kengar said, "Throughout the academic year, we kept receiving orders from the education department, asking us not to pressure students with any exams. Now, they are expecting that all have completed internal evaluation. Moreover, we cannot forget that the matter of the SSC exam is currently subjudice. The decision is a product of the state having to submit its affidavit to court in response to the petition filed against the cancelation of the exam. It will be important to know what the court says on this in the upcoming hearing."

Teachers said that Std IX evaluation too is incomplete, as the final exam could not be held due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Walk-in jabs for students going abroad

In good news for students headed abroad for higher studies, the BMC has announced free walk-in vaccinations for three days at three hospitals next week. These will be Rajawadi, Cooper and Kasturba Hospitals from Monday to Wednesday (May 31 to June 2). Aditya Thackeray tweeted about this late Friday night. "Students will need to carry I- 20 or DS-160 form/verified confirmation letter to the foreign universities concerned, along with personal identity documents. I will also be speaking to other civic corporations across Maharashtra to implement the same for students in and around those cities. The numbers are small, but their career opportunities can't be missed," tweeted Thackeray.