Are students victims of SSC-vs-others battle?

Results are out, but will not yet put an end to students’ anxiety. That’s because the admission process has been delayed due to the best-of-five policy being disputed in the high court. DNA gets views from students and an educationist.

Expert view
Take decisions at beginning of academic year
The ‘best of five subject policy’ is quite good for SSC as they didn’t have better facilities as other boards give to their students where they can learn the subject in a better way and score more. Even boards like CBSE and ICSE have more options for selecting their high scoring or favourite subjects. Their marking system is also very liberal then SSC. So it was the need for the government to do something concrete to the SSC students. 

However, for couple of years now the students are facing various problems due to all of a sudden announcement at the end of academic year, regarding either the process or the marking system. It is quite wrong as instead of trying to make the process easy for students the system becomes most chaotic and trouble some. The timing of any decision is very important. Even the right policies seem unworthy for the students and create discrimination.  Government should have taken such decisions of right from the beginning of academic year.
—Snehalata Deshmukh, ex-vice chancellor of Mumbai University

It’s hilarious that some got 100%
The best of five policy is unfair to our counterparts in other boards. This policy is botched and leads to unnecessary competition. It’s hilarious that some students have scored almost 100%. This will give them unnecessary confidence which will shatter in competitive exams like IIT or MH CET. The online admission process is a commendable move. We no longer need to rush from one college to another for filling forms or checking merit lists. It is economical and also reduces tension to us as well as to our parents.
—Kaushal Shah, SVP School

Don’t politicise education system
I don’t understand why every year students have to suffer. Admission gets delayed and many students feel discriminated amidst all the chaos. The government should take decision right at the beginning of the academic year. If there are problems with the different boards in the country then the government should have merged all boards into one board or administrative body. All students have worked hard for their exams. This politicisation of our education system is wrong.
—Ekta Shah, Gopi Birla Memorial School

Online admission seems good now
Of course, students and their parents are affected by such decisions. In the long run, they might be good but sudden changes cause anxiety among students. Even now we don’t know what will happen and will have to wait and watch. Last year, the online admission caused panic but now it seems a good decision as one doesn’t have to go to each and every college to fill forms. The best of five policy is welcome as ICSE board has lenient marking system which impacts SSC students while applying in colleges.
—Vaishali Jain, Veer Bhagatsingh Vidyalaya

Late start will affect whole year
The delay in admission is going to bring down the morale of students. Despite scoring well, it is a shame they have to worry about getting admission to a good college. Late admissions will affect our whole year. The different propositions  might be good but they cause panic among students. Therefore, all such propositions should be made prior to the results so that admissions are not affected. I support the best of five policy as it will benefit the students from state board. Hope admissions are not delayed.
—Shreya Gandhi, St Joseph’s High School

All boards should be kept in loop
Students are becoming victims due to clash between the boards and state government. The government should ensure fair chance to students of all the boards. It doesn't set a good example on students to see discrimination towards students of other boards. Moreover any decision should have been taken by giving a fair time to all the boards so they can change their policies accordingly. The best of five subject policy and the online admission have augmented the chaos that students face. Hope our admissions happen soon. 
—Rohit Kokate, PF High School