Confusion prevails: SSC students listed for wrong paper

Confusion prevailed among students and exam centres during the Algebra paper of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam on Tuesday.

Confusion prevailed among students and exam centres during the Algebra paper of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam on Tuesday.

Several students arriving to write the algebra exam, found out that they were registered for general mathematics. The students were allowed to write the Algebra paper only after signing an undertaking. The mix-up could have been a result of school authorities filling details of students incorrectly while registering for the exams said board officials.

General mathematics is offered by the state board after considering the low pass percentage of mathematics. However, students opting for the subject cannot pursue further studies in technical and science streams.

Before the paper began around 11.00am on Tuesday, the board helpline received calls from more than 10 distressed students complaining that they wanted to appear for the algebra exam, but were registered for the general mathematics, which was scheduled at 3.00pm on the same day.

“I was told that I was registered for general maths paper in afternoon. I think my school bungled up my form,” said a student who appeared for the exam from Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose School, Chembur.

“We received calls from students wanting to change to algebra at the last minute,” said an official from the board helpline. “We made the necessary arrangements and allowed them to take the exam.”

The board has also asked the schools concerned to submit reports stating the reason for the mix-up. “Registering for the SSC exam was done online this year, the schools could have made mistakes while entering the details,” said Siddheshwar Chandekar, secretary of the state board, Mumbai division.