HSC exams more important for students than SSC: Maharashtra to HC

The Maharashtra government on Monday told Bombay High Court that SSC Class X and HSC Class XII exams could not be compared as the latter was a relatively more important milestone for students as their careers depended on itThe state government in an affidavit said SSC exams for this year were cancelled amid the coronavirus outbreak after considering the safety of students teachers parents and other stakeholdersThe affidavit by the states School Education and Sports department deputy secretary Rajendra Pawar was in response to a PIL filed by a professor Dhananjay Kulkarni challenging the April 19 decision of the state government to cancel Class X exams this yearThe HC on May 20 had come down heavily on the state government saying it was making a mockery of the education system and had directed it to file its affidavit on the pleaThe HC also sought an explanation as to why the state government was holding Class XII examsAlso ReadAcademic records of over 78000 SSC students unavailableThe state governments affidavit said Class XII exams are postponed presently and a final decision on it would be taken after the Centre makes a move on the national levelIt was thought fit that 12th board examinations were a relatively more important milestone in the education of the students as their future careers depend upon the same as compared to the 10th standard examination the affidavit saidUsually unlike 10th standard after 12th standard the path of the students overall career is decided it said adding that students in 12th standard are more matured independent socially aware and bodily and mentally fit than those in Class XIt is like comparing apples with cheese only because both are edible the state government said in the affidavitThe state government said it cannot be held that SSC exams cannot be cancelled just because no decision has been taken on HSC examsThe affidavit said holding SSC exams for which around 16 lakh students appear each year was a mammoth exercise also involving teachers and parents as well as the police and transport systemIt said the academic year of 202021 underwent turmoil with physical classes getting stopped and teachers managing with online classes due to the Covid19 pandemicPost the second wave of infections the state government after consulting stakeholders first decided to postpone SSC exams till June and then on April 19 decided to cancel itThe decision to cancel 10th board exams was taken by the state government after giving primary consideration not only to the safety and welfare but also the lives of students examiners teaching and nonteaching staff and many others who would be involved in conducting them the affidavit saidThe state government told court the number of Covid19 cases was decreasing gradually but the situation was still not in full control and there was pressure on the health care systemIt also said there was a threat of a third wave of the pandemic which medical experts say may affect children between 12 and 18 years of ageThe affidavit added that the government has to also come up with a formula on how to evaluate the studentsThe HC is expected to hear the matter on June 1This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever