Maharashtra state board to offer international programme for Class 10 students
The Secondary School Certificate International (SSC-I) has been conceptualised on the lines of CBSE-I started by the Centre four years ago. It aims to impart 21st-century skills to students and bring them at par with their international counterparts.
The Maharashtra state board will for the first time offer an international programme for Class 10 students from the next academic year. The department will launch the Secondary School Certificate International (SSC-I) programme in 100 government schools in association with the University of Cambridge on a pilot basis and then extend it to other schools.
The Secondary School Certificate International (SSC-I) has been conceptualised on the lines of CBSE-I started by the Centre four years ago. It aims to impart 21st-century skills to students and bring them at par with their international counterparts.
The University of Cambridge will help modify the teaching patterns to inculcate real-world problem-solving skills.
Ruchira Ghosh, regional director, South Asia, CIE, however, refused to comment on the collaboration saying it was still in its early stages and is being worked out. “We will be very happy to partner with the Maharashtra government. But the details of how it will be done are still being worked out,” she said.
As part of the SSC-I programme, the students will be prepared to answer international assessments such as Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) and Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS).
An international curriculum will also be provided, if required, said Nand Kumar, principal secretary of the department. “Our aim is to raise the standard of secondary education under our new Pragat Shaikshanik Maharashtra initiative,” he said, adding, “For this, we have to ensure that our students are ahead at the national and international levels.”
HT had reported on September 20 that Maharashtra is for the first time gearing up to take part in the renowned PISA survey, which ranks countries on basis of their students’ performance. Two states from the country, Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, had participated in PISA last time but they ended up at the bottom of the list. “We want to be in the top 20 countries in PISA. Our students shouldn’t score below 60% in these assessments,” said Kumar.
