The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) has postponed the Maharashtra Board Class 10, 12 exam scheduled for April. Now the class 10 Maharashtra Board exams will be held in June and the 12th class exams will be held in May.
The decision was announced after consultation with various stakeholders including students, teachers, parents, elected representatives from all parties, academics, and technical experts, Minister of Education Varsha Gaikwad informed.
The decision was made in response to growing cases of COVID-19 in the province and across India. The vast majority of students, and parents wanted the board exams postponed. Previously, the Maharashtra Board exams were scheduled to start on April 23 and April 29 for classes 10 and 12 respectively. The board also announced the conducting of special tests for students affected by the epidemic in June.
“Due to the current situation of #COVID-19 in Maharashtra, we have postponed the 10th and 12th grade board exams. Current conditions are not suitable for exam writing. Your health is our priority,” said Gaikwad.
“During the consultation process, a variety of assessment methods were considered for the health, welfare and future of our students. Postponing the tests seemed to be the most effective solution. We will also be writing to the boards of CBSE, ICSE, IB, Cambridge, asking them to reconsider their exam dates,” Gaikwad wrote on Twitter.
Earlier, Shiv Sena leader Arvind Sawant wrote to the Minister of Education Ramesh Pokhiryal Nishank demanding a similar policy for the 10th and 12th Board assessments in provinces and boards.
Every year, about 30 lakh students take the Maharashtra Board exams including the HSC and SSC. Last year, more than 15.75 lakhs had been awarded SSCs and 14.13 lakhs had appeared in HSC tests. Of these, 90.66 percent of students passed the HSC exams and 95.3 percent dropped out of the SSC exams.
