State moves to ease college entry for SSC students

From this year onwards, college admission for SSC students will be based on their marks in their best five subjects, reports Sayli Udas Mankikar.

From this year onwards, college admission for SSC students will be based on their marks in their best five subjects. And they will have to clear only five of the six subjects they appear for to get into college.

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The state education department has finalised a ‘best of five’ scheme to counter what it believes is an unfair advantage students of central boards enjoy because of a liberal marking system.

“Last week we met Chief Minister Ashok Chavan who gave his consent. We will go ahead with this scheme,” State Education Minister Balasaheb Thorat told Hindustan Times on Monday.

A government resolution (GR) to the effect is likely to come out this week, he added.

Father Francis Swamy, a member of the SSC board and principal of Holy Family School in Andheri, explains the new system: “SSC students have to attempt all six exams, but their marks in the best five subjects will be considered for admission. They have to compulsorily pass in Marathi and English, but of the remaining four —Hindi, Mathematics, Social Sciences and Science — if they don’t clear one, they will still be promoted.”

The ICSE already has a similar system in place. While its students appear for all seven subjects, their marks in the best five are considered. The CBSE Class 10 students have only five subjects in all.

Sources said Chavan had asked Thorat to get a move on the new system so as to avoid the chaos that have marred admissions for the last two years.