Maharashtra: Revised curriculum framework eases path for students struggling with maths and science

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If you are a Class X student of the Maharashtra state board, failing or scoring low in Mathematics and Science no longer means a complete halt to your educational journey. According to the updated provisions in the revised State Curriculum Framework (SCF), released by the SCERT, students scoring between 20 and 35 marks in these subjects will still be able to continue their education and be allowed to move to junior college.

Historically, failing in Mathematics has been a common struggle for students. A familiar refrain for many was, "Scored well in all subjects but failed in Maths." This stigma and fear often prevent students from advancing in their academic careers. However, the updated framework now offers two choices for students in this predicament: they can either reattempt the exam or move forward with an SSC certificate that includes a special section, acknowledging their partial success in Mathematics and Science.

This new approach primarily targets students who do not wish to pursue careers in Mathematics or Science-related fields. Those students will have the opportunity to leave these subjects behind without hindering their progress into higher education. Essentially, this means that the haunting dream of failing Maths no longer needs to become a reality for many. The fear of losing further educational opportunities is greatly reduced.

"This is the recommendation in the revised SCF. It is one of many changes and improvements made to the state curriculum framework after carefully studying the issues in the old syllabus and trends in student performance," said a senior official from the school education department.

New provisions in the revised SCF:

Option for Re-examination: Students scoring less than 35 but more than 20 marks in Mathematics or Science have the option to reappear for the exam if they wish to improve their score.

SSC Certification with Remarks: Students who do not wish to reattempt the exam can move forward to the standard 11 or first-year junior college with a certificate that includes a specific remark, indicating their limitations in Mathematics and Science. This provides an avenue for pursuing courses that do not require a strong background in these subjects.

Impact on students and the education system:

The reform also addresses the issue of educational stagnation for some students after the grade X. Officials claim that the policy aims to help students avoid getting stuck in academic limbo due to difficulties with traditionally challenging subjects like Maths and Science.

For students opting out of these subjects, the syllabus offers General Mathematics from Class VIII onwards. "While this subject was designed for students not inclined towards higher-level Mathematics, the number of students opting for it has been decreasing over time," SCERT noted.

Officials state that the revised curriculum framework is designed to alleviate pressure on students, enabling them to focus on subjects that align with their strengths and future aspirations. It recognizes that not all students need to excel in Mathematics or Science to achieve success in their careers and lives.

"By providing this kind of flexibility, the system hopes to ensure that students who are not inclined towards technical or scientific fields can still thrive academically without unnecessary setbacks," the official added.