Students must now pass in theory and practicals

From next year, students appearing for the SSC and HSC exams will have to independently pass in their orals and practical examinations conducted internally and theory papers at the board level, reports Kiran Wadhwa.

From next year, students appearing for the SSC and HSC exams will have to independently pass in their orals and practical examinations conducted internally and theory papers at the board level.

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For each subject, a 20-mark examination is assessed internally and the marks form part of the board exam theory paper. This system was introduced last year for classes 10 and 12 board exams.

Over 30 lakh students take the HSC and SSC exams in the state. Students had to jointly score 35 marks to pass the exam, but now they need to score 35 per cent marks in each of the exams.

“You can’t score full marks in the internal exam and then score 15 in the theory paper and pass,” School Education Minister Patangrao Kadam said on Monday. “It defeats the purpose of the examination. They need to pass independently in both.”

The rule will be introduced from next year. With introduction of the internal marking, the pass percentage in the state had jumped by 8 per cent and 14 per cent in the SCC and HSC exams respectively.

Schools and colleges agree that this will curb inflated marking. “It will be healthy, but borderline students will be affected,” said headmistress of Children’s Academy, Kandivli, Nafisa Bhinderwala.

“Many students who do very well in practicals with 19 on 20, but are not too good with textbook knowledge.”

“It is fishy if a student who can’t score 35 per cent in a theory paper manages to max a practical paper or project,” Kavita Rege, principal, of Sathaye College.

“We have to set certain standards and expectations for our students rather than dilute it with short cuts,” added Rege.