Pune: The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board officials have clarified that the secondary (SSC) and higher secondary (HSC) board exams will be conducted in offline format. The exams are being scheduled after April 23, 2021 and a meeting has been convened for deciding on the timetable of these exams.
The number of students appearing for SSC and HSC exams is huge. The number of subjects is also high. There are more than 64 subjects for class 10 and 128 subjects for class 12 students. Hence conducting online exams for these students is almost impossible in current scenario. Also, asking multiple choice questions to these students will not be in their interest.
Considering the summer heat in May month and rainy season in June, the education board contemplating to conduct the exams from April 23. The exams will be conducted by following all physical distancing norms and other guidelines like wearing masks and using sanitisers at the exam centres.
Lukewarm response to schools reopening
The schools are trying to complete 70 per cent of curriculum till April 23. The teachers have been asked to plan accordingly. Even though the state government has allowed schools in some regions to reopen, only 9,500 schools out of the total 25,866 schools have actually resumed physical classroom education.
Out of 59.27 lakh students, only 4 lakh students are actually attending schools. Considering the lukewarm response of students and parents to reopening of schools, the board has decided to delay the board exams by one or two months.
The education board has planned to release the timetable for SSC and HSC exams in January 2021 month.
