SSC Board reserves results, leaves thousands in the lurch

As if the anxiety of appearing for their first board exams and then waiting for what seemed like an eternity for the delayed results was not enough, thousands of students from the city are at their wits' end after the state board ‘reserved' their results yesterday.

Thousands of excited, anxious students logged on to find out their results yesterday, only to find that they had been withheld. Pic/Sayed Sameer Abedi

After the Maharashtra State Board for Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) finally announced the SSC results yesterday, schools across the city were surprised to receive calls from anxious parents stating that their children's results had been reserved.

Further inquiry led to the Mumbai divisional board claiming that results had been withheld for those students whose internal assessment marks had not been provided by the schools. This, after some schools have submitted the marks twice in the past three months.

Also read: SSC results declared, Mumbai's pass percentage stands at 83.05

Outraged
"The board has told all parents that schools have failed to provide the internal assessment marks. We have proof that we submitted the marks to the board not once but twice in the past three months. Board officials had signed and acknowledged receipt of these marks," said Chandrika Ragji, principal of Yashodham High School in Goregaon (E).

Adding that the results of 20 students from a batch of 284 from the school who had appeared for SSC exams this year have been reserved. "How can the board prove that we have not submitted the marks of just these 20 students? All the marks are sent at the same time and in the same document," she added.

Also read: SSC results - Counsellors try to pacify jittery students, parents

Ragji was also shocked that two of her students were told that they failed in graded subjects. "How is it possible that the students failed in graded subjects? We checked our files and all students have been given ‘A' grades. The board, however, says they have failed. I can't believe that in this day and age, with computers and technology at their disposal, the board has managed to make such goof-ups," she said.

Misplaced?
The principals of several city schools told mid-day that the board had asked them to re-submit the internal assessment marks to the board just a week ago. "We were told to re-submit marks to the divisional board one week ago, which we did, and now the board says we haven't sent the information. I'm sure the results were delayed because the board has misplaced some of the marks," said the principal of a Malad school, on condition of anonymity.

Also read: Students, schools worry about admissions as SSC results get delayed

At St Xavier's Boys Academy in Churchgate, the results of 12 students have been reserved. The school found out that most of these were students with various learning disabilities (LD). "If the board claims that internal assessment marks have not been provided to them, then that's wrong.

For students with LD, they are allowed to opt for an easier version of Maths, wherein practical marks are not a component. What is the board trying to prove?" asked Savio D'Mello, the school's vice-principal.

Harrowing time
Hundreds of SSC students and parents flocked the Mumbai division's board office in Vashi on Tuesday. Most were demanding reasons for the results being withheld and expressed worry that this would affect their junior college admission.

"I couldn't see my daughter's result on the website despite entering the correct information. We were all very excited and anxious, but now we will have to wait longer to know the results. Board officials have registered my daughter's hall ticket details and have promised to let me know about the result in 2-3 days. I hope this does not affect her junior college admission," said Dinesh Kurdhunkar (50), a parent.

Helpline woes
Many students and parents were also miffed at their calls to the board helpline numbers going unanswered. "I called the board helpline number for three hours at a stretch, but no one answered my calls," said Naigaon resident Kalpana Sharma, whose sister appeared for the SSC exams this year.
- With inputs from Ankoor Anvekar