Days after the spontaneous agitation launched by students demanding the cancellation of offline exams, School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad and the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) have announced that examinations for Classes 10 and 12 will be conducted offline (pen and paper mode) as per the time table already announced. Class 12 (HSC) exams will start from March 4 while Class 10 (SSC) exams will begin from March 15 in the state.
Gaikwad said, “In order to conduct the upcoming Classes 10 and 12 board exams in a secure and student-friendly environment, the MSBSHSE has announced special measures today (Thursday).” In order to ensure full compliance and observance of Covid protocols, students will have to reach their respective exam centres at least an hour before the designated exam time. The exam paper will be distributed 10 minutes before the commencement of the exam.
MSBSHSE Chairman Sharad Gosavi said, “Owing to pandemic-related disruptions, the curriculum was earlier cut by 25 per cent. We wish to assure students that exam questions will be based on the remainder 75 per cent syllabus.” He added that dedicated helplines would be set up by the divisional offices of the board to resolve any or all exam-related queries of students. A high-level monitoring committee will be set up for the safe conduct of the exams.
According to guidelines issued by the MSBSHSE, students will appear for their written exams in the school/college they study in. A familiar environment and a ‘home centre’ will help them feel better and will also reduce travel. Those students missing the exams due to Covid will get another opportunity to appear for the same.
“As our students may have lost practice in time-bound completion of answer sheets, we have decided to give them more time to finish exams. Thirty minutes extra time will be given for a 70-100 marks paper, while there will be 15 minutes for a 40-60 marks paper. Students will also be given time to prepare their strategy for writing the papers, as question papers will be given 10 minutes before the starting bell,” it said.
A minimum additional time of 20 minutes per hour of examination will be provided as a compensatory time to students with benchmark disabilities. This will be over and above the extra time mentioned above. All exam centres will be made accessible to differently-abled students and all the prevalent concessions applicable to differently-abled students will be provided.
Due to Covid curbs, many schools and colleges have not been able to conduct the scheduled number of practicals, therefore, Class 12 schools/ junior colleges will conduct these exams based on 40 per cent of the subject-wise syllabus or the number of finished experiments, whichever is more. For Class 10, schools will similarly conduct practical exams based on 40 per cent of the subject-wise syllabus or the number of finished experiments, whichever is more.
“In cases where it is not possible to conduct practical exams owing to Covid-19 restrictions, assessments will be done through written assignments,” it added.
Within the 40 per cent cap, schools/colleges will have the flexibility to choose the experiments for the exams. Examiners (internal and external) will be provided by the same school/college. To avoid crowding, exams/submissions will be done batch-wise, under strict safety protocols. Further, based on the evaluation criteria/framework set by the Board, schools/colleges can evaluate a student.
If any student falls sick or misses out on practicals, grade/orals or internal assessments due to unavoidable reasons, they will be given another chance for the same after the written exams, for both Classes 10 and 12. No separate fees will be payable.
However, Gosavi said, to ensure the conduct of exams in a secure and safe environment, strict compliance with all Covid safety protocols will be insisted on. All exam centres will have a designated isolation room. If a student shows symptoms mid-exam, they can be allowed to continue in the isolation room, if they wish to finish the paper. The nearest government health centre will provide assistance as needed.
