The state education board is considering setting separate passing scores for written and practical or oral examinations and a decision on this is expected to be taken soon.
Why the need to change?
The matter came up in the context of reports that an abnormally large number of students scored full or close to full marks in the practical or oral exam conducted at the institutions, whereas many of them were satisfied with scoring the minimum in the written exam that was necessary to pass the 35% mark.
How did the problem surface?
GK Mahamane, chairman, state education board, said: "We have noticed some issues in the marking system due to which the passing percentage has gone up noticeably. So we are considering setting separate pass marks for both the written and practical exams."
The board chief pointed out that at the last higher secondary exams the passing percentage of students in the commerce and arts streams had jumped up by as much as15%.
What is the current system?
Under the existing system, students appearing for the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam and the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) appear for various subjects which have a written exam of 80 marks and a practical section of 20 marks. Students must score a total 35 marks on the aggregate to pass.
Therefore, those who get the maximum 20 in the practicals may require just another 15 marks of the 80 in the written paper and this it is suspected is leading to students putting minimum effort in the written section.
How many students are involved?
Nearly 15.5 lakh students took the SSC exam and about 12 lakh students appeared for the HSC exam this year.
This marks structure was introduced in the SSC a couple of years ago and for the HSC from this year.
What do teachers say?
Anil Deshmukh, general secretary, Maharashtra Federation of Junior College Teachers' Organisation, said, "We have been demanding that the state government require external examiners for the HSC science practical exam. The education minister has given an assurance on the issue but not done anything in the matter yet."
"We have come to know that on account of the practice of internal examiners, some unaided colleges do not even conduct practicals through the year. Then students are given the maximum for practicals and they neglect the written exam which is affecting the quality of the students passing out," he said.
What are steps taken so far?
Ashwini Bhide, state education secretary, said, "We are seriously considering changing the system of distribution of marks for the SSC and HSC exams and have already consulted the experts on the matter."
Rajesh Pandya, vice-president, Teacher's Democratic Front, said, "It is good for students who have passed with the help of internal marks. But poor performance in the written exam will not be helpful in the long term. Some of this is happening because schools also desire cent percent results."
On the marks
HSC exam total 650 marks
Environment: 50 marks
Physics: 70 marks written, 30 marks practicals
Chemistry: 70 marks written, 30 marks practicals
Biology: 70 marks written, 30 marks practicals
Math, languages, geography have 80 marks written, 20 marks orals.
SSC exam total 600 marks
Information Communication Technology (ICT) was introduced in 2014 with 40 marks written, 10 marks orals. It is a grade result.
The SSC exam is of 600 marks
Three languages have 80 marks written, 20 marks orals
Science: 80 marks written, 20 marks practicals
Algebra: 40 marks written, 10 marks practicals
Geometry: 40 marks written, 10 marks practical
History: 40 marks written, 10 marks orals
Geography: 40 marks written, 10 marks orals.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}