Help children to compete with students from other boards
Finally, the government has announced the implementation of the best of five subjects for junior college admissions. I think this is a good move. With the tension mounting on students before their crucial board exam, the announcement has come at the right time. This will certainly reduce pressure on the students. Earlier the
government had unsuccessfully attempted to introduce the percentile and 90-10 zonal systems, but I’m sure this new policy will encourage students to concentrate on five subjects. This will also help them to compete with other board students, at the time of securing admission in colleges. I wish the government had tried this earlier, before toying with the other two systems and it would have worked. The government should also ensure nochanges in policy in the particular field, once it is adopted. I’m sure this move will be a welcome relief for parents also.
KA Viswanathan SIES trustee
It will bring huge relief to hassled parents
The new initiative by the state government for calculating a student’s percentage on the basis of their best five subjects will be a relief to parents and students. This will definitely reduce pressure on students. For SSC students, this may be new, but CBSE students already have the rule in effect. There is only one worrisome aspect about it. Students who want to pursue higher studies in the science stream will have to concentrate on both mathematics and science subjects, since both will be crucial. If anyone ignores either mathematics or science, then it will be difficult for such students. Except this, there is no problem about the new policy.
Anvita Bir, principal, RN Podar College
Developed countries follow such a system
The move to consider the scores of the best five subjects is a great move by the state government. This is also a step towards moving ahead in adopting the international system. All developed countries follow such a system. This will reduce the boredom of students, who don’t want to study all subjects. According to me subjects like mathematics, science, English and languages like Hindi or Marathi are important. The remaining subjects shouldn’t be ignored and it must be mandatory to get a minimum score. Also, if students fail they should be allowed to take admission and they should be allowed to take the exam later. This will be good for having an excellent base of knowledge.
—Sunder Rajdeep,parent and educator
Everyone has strong and weak points
I’m happy with the government’s plan to implement best of five policy. It will reduce the burden on students. It is human nature that everyone doesn’t like all subjects. Students either like science or arts subjects. So if they have a choice to leave one subject, then they can concentrate on the remaining. I feel, we shouldn’t force any child who doesn’t like the subjects. According to me the five most important subjects are English, mathematics, science and local languages. Additionally, the government must give more importance to environmental science and sensitise children about issues like global warming and degradation of nature.
—Pinky Machcha, parent
Will test ability and produce better results
This move will result in better grading system and overall academic improvement. The system may boost averages and help students to concentrate better. Moreover this grading system will enable students to focus on subjects of their choice. The importance of the subject for a student depends on the interests and the stream that the individual plans to opt for. The specialisation will mainly depend on the profession a student wants to get into. There are chances students might neglect a particular subject, but still they will have to clear the exams, so it cannot be completely done away with.
—Shikha Shah,mass media student
Let us follow a uniform system in school
It’s good that the state board is coming up with changes regarding the education scenario. But till date many policies have been devised, but many of them haven’t workedquite smoothly. So there needs to be a proper explanation for the same to avoid any ambiguity for students, parents and school authorities as well. The decision to consider the score calculated for the best five subjects seems good. But this shouldn’t imply that we ignore a subject completely. This is because once in college, there will be specialisation according to an individual’s choice. But in school, all subjects need to be given equal weightage.
—Balisha Shetty, class IX student
Pupils will know what to concentrate on
This move will help establish parity between students from the different boards for junior college admissions. Also according to the SSC board’s proposal, it is vital to pass in Marathi and English and not Hindi which is our national language. I hope that this doesn’t lead to any further controversies. But otherwise I think such a novel move is welcome. This will result in students focusing on their area of interest, for instance, social sciences or Mathematics. I personally enjoy studying Mathematics and languages as well. This will result in students preparing for their exams according to the subjects of their interest.
—Dhairya Gala, class IX student
Prove beneficial for weaker students
According to me this grading system is good. It may help weaker students to pass in the examinations and go to college even if they are not good in some subjects. Plus, it will reduce the stress level on students. I think that mathematics, English, Hindi, science and environmental education are most important and should be compulsory to pass in since they are major subjects if one wants to opt for engineering or medical studies. I don't think one can specialise so early in life. Specialisation comes with experience and maturity and in school one may lack both. It will surely lead to ignorance in one or more subjects.
—Hemant Kandoi, class VIII student
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