State allows schools to start Classes 11, 12

In a move that could increase junior college seats, the state government on Wednesday allowed English-medium schools with Class 10 to make applications for starting classes 11 and 12 this year itself.

In a move that could increase junior college seats, the state government on Wednesday allowed English-medium schools with Class 10 to make applications for starting classes 11 and 12 this year itself.

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Usually, the approval process is long drawn out and schools were required to apply months in advance. Junior college admissions will begin after the SSC results are declared later this month.

The latest government resolution fast tracks the scrutiny process. It states that if schools can submit the relevant documents and show that they fulfill requirements such as having a library, laboratory and good financial position, they will be able to begin junior college admissions from this academic year itself. The additional college seats made available could help ease students’ anxiety associated with admissions.

“We wanted to make it easy for schools to provide integrated education from Class 1 to 12 to its students,” said a government official. “In the same premises, with the same teachers, students will have a greater comfort level and the pressure on junior college admissions will also decrease. It is also part of the vision to extend the neighbourhood school concept.”

The GR states that schools will need to, within a year, become affiliated to the HSC Board. “If they have made the whole application procedure easier then definitely schools would want to go for it,” said Father Francis Swamy, principal of Holy Name School at Andheri.

“There will be more seats for students to apply for and it will make it easier for them to apply to junior college.” He added that his school was seriously exploring this option.

In a previous GR dated March 10, the government stated that English medium schools functioning till Class 8 would be able to add Classes 9 and 10 with immediate effect provided the schools were able to show the relevant documents. The new GR builds on the previous one.