Maharashtra School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad on Friday announced the evaluation criteria for the state board students of Class 10, the examinations of which have been cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gaikwad said all students who were to appear for Class 10 (Secondary School Certificate- SSC) exams will be promoted, and marks will be given on the basis of the internal assessment of their performance this year and that of Class 9.
"The policy for scoring and tabulation of marks for Class 10 students based on school-level assessments has also been finalised after deliberations with all the stakeholders. Students will be assessed out of maximum 100 marks for each subject," the Minister said.
Gaikwad said the Final results will be based on subject-wise marks scored by a candidate in: 1. Internal written evaluation conducted during the year (30 marks). 2. Homework / oral exam / practical / internal assignments as per board's policy (20 marks). 3. Final results of Std 9th (50 marks).
The Minister said it is an "ad hoc arrangement", but one that attempts to incorporate some semblance of "normal times". "The assessments used for tabulating marks of Class 9th will have taken place almost entirely during pre-Covid times & the corresponding results are verifiable," she said.
"Any candidate who is not satisfied with the marks allotted will have the opportunity to appear in the next couple of examinations for improvement in scores to be conducted by the board after the conditions become more conducive to hold exams," added Gaikwad.
Who will be responsible for finalisation of results?
A Result Committee headed by the school's Principal / Headmaster and comprising six teachers will be responsible for finalisation of results and safe keeping of records, the Minister said. "The task is challenging, but I'm confident that our schools, teachers will live up to the task," she said.
When will the results be declared?
Gaikwad said the results will be declared by June-end. "Schools will be given timelines for various activities to allow the SSC board to declare results by June-end. The board will organize webinars, upload FAQs & set up helplines to give schools, teachers a detailed understanding of the assessment process," she said.
The Minister added that separate assessment plans have also been finalised for repeater/private students/isolated candidates. Moreover, the cancelled board exam of 2021 will not be counted in the two chances available under the Class Improvement Scheme, she further said.
What happens after results are declared?
A common entrance test (CET) for admission to Class 11 will be held, although it would be optional, the Minister said. Those students, who appear for the CET, will be given priority in Class 11 admissions. Students from other education boards can also give this test, she added.
This two-hour-long exam will be based on the Class 10 syllabus. The remaining students will be accommodated based on the marks they got in the internal assessment, Gaikwad said.
