SSC students join other boards, score 99% plus

MUMBAI: For the first time in several years, SSC students joined their ICSE and CBSE counterparts in scoring more than 99%.
While the abundance of marks has brought cheer to many, academicians say the boards need to look beyond marks and raise the quality of examination.
An important reason for the rising high scorers in the state board is the introduction of internal examinations.“Over the past few years, SSC students have been scoring higher, the main reason for which could be the introduction of marks for internal assessment. Since this system already exists in ICSE and CBSE boards, it ensures that no unfair advantage is given to a particular group and that all students get a fair chance,” said Freny Mehta, principal, Alexandra Girls’ English Institution, Fort.
While introduction of internal assessment has aided students, principals want better quality of testing and to move beyond rote learning.
“Evaluation is a technique for teachers to know if students have understood things being taught. But in the current scenario, it is about how well students can rote learn,” said the principal of a SSC school in Goregaon.
“According to the Right to Education Act, no student can be failed till Class VIII. The syllabus, too, has become simpler. Although there is no competition as such between the boards, students are at a loss. There is quite a lot of theory and we need to increase the practical knowledge of students,” said Madhukar Yadav, principal, Balmohan Vidyamandir, Dadar.
Suggesting ways to allow students to score better, Anna Correa, incoming principal, St Stanislaus High School, Bandra, said, “Competition has increased quite a lot. There is a need to introduce a vocational education system, where students can opt for the subjects they desire, based on their interests so that they can score well. The SSC board is not doing as well as the ICSE board. Students from the ICSE board score higher marks in languages than SSC students. ”
The common notion has been that in the past few years, the state board has introduced several practices to help students score on par with CBSE and ICSE students. Principals, though, say there is, instead, a need to find ways to bring in uniformity.
“We should have a common board, looked after by the Centre. This will mean a common syllabus and curriculum, and will bring about uniformity in terms of teaching, marking and testing of students. The states could include one subject, like a regional one, if they desire,” said Mehta.