Going by the rules introduced by the state during the pandemic years, students appearing for the SSC exam privately this year can pass with marks they had scored as far back as Class V.
Since the state government has decided to evaluate regular students with 50% marks from Class IX and the remaining 50% from the current academic year, the issue of the Class IX marks for external students was raised.
The state board has decided to tabulate the marks that these students scored in their last exam, from Class V to VIII.
The marks scored by these students in their most recent exams will have to converted to 80% and the remaining 20 marks will be awarded based on the oral and practical exams that the schools will conduct for these external students, said officials.
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A majority of external students are dropouts.
Often students migrate and do not enrol in schools in the new place, or encounter other circumstances hampering regular schooling.
They are allowed to appear for the SSC exam at a later date by taking private coaching.
Experts and educators said there was no comparison between the marks scored in Class V and Class IX.
School principal of Indutai Pawar English medium school Latika Mane agreed, but pointed out it would help these students pursue further education.
“A large number of students work during the day and study at night and have a poor history with education.
Many teachers follow up with such students to bring them back to schools or convince them to appear for the SSC exam externally so that they pursue further education.
The new rule will be helpful,” Mane said.
Ashok Bhosale, secretary of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, said: “Their (external students’) marks for Class IX are not available as a majority of them drop out much earlier.
For students who have appeared through regular schools in Class IX and decided to appear for SSC through Form 17, the Class IX marks need to be converted to 80% from the Saral system.”
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