This year, 18,000 more students to give SSC exams

Nearly 18,000 more students will be appearing for the SSC exams from the state board’s Mumbai division this year as compared to last year.

Nearly 18,000 more students will be appearing for the SSC exams from the state board’s Mumbai division this year as compared to last year.

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However, the number of those sitting for the exam from the rest of the state has only risen by around 15,000 students.

The SSC board exams begin on March 1 with the first language paper (for those whose first language is not English).

“With the Class 9 examinations becoming simpler, it has become difficult to fail, so more children are getting promoted to Class 10,” said Father Francis Swamy, principal of Holy Family School in Andheri and an official with the state board.

“The new pattern of internal assessment has made it easier to score in Class 9.”

This year 3.55 lakh students from the Mumbai division will be appearing for the exams compared to 3.39 lakh last year.

Across the state 16.4 lakh students will appear for the exam, compared to 16.26 lakh students last year. Of them, this year, 9.05 lakh are boys and 7.35 lakh are girls.

“The number of schools has increased across the state so the number of students has also correspondingly increased,” said a board official, on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media.

This is the first year that the board will be rolling out concessions for autistic stud-ents.

As compared to last year such students will be appearing for exams in one language subject and two vocational subjects, instead of in three lang-uages.

One autistic student from Mumbai will be the first and only student availing of the concession in its inaugural year, said officials.