Maharashtra to expand open schooling to classes X and XII

Pune: The Maharashtra State Board of Open Schooling (MSBOS) is set for an expansion, with plans to introduce certification for classes X and XII. Currently, the board offers schooling only for classes V and VIII, with a modest enrollment of around 150 students.

With this expansion, officials have set an ambitious target of enrolling one lakh students by next year. The initiative specifically focuses on reaching women in rural areas and urban slum pockets who were forced to drop out of mainstream education due to financial constraints or family obligations.

Trigun Kulkarni, chairperson of the state board, confirmed that the formal registration of the expanded board is in its final stages. “The process is underway and should be completed within a few days. There is a vast population, particularly women, who can benefit from open schooling because it removes the requirement to attend physical classes. Students can study at their own pace and appear directly for examinations,” Kulkarni said.

To ensure the initiative reaches its target demographic, the board plans to coordinate with district collectors across the state to drive enrollment for Class X and XII certifications.

Following the model of the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), MSBOS intends to offer a wide range of subjects with varying levels of difficulty. This flexibility will allow students to choose a curriculum that matches their individual capacity and goals.

“We are currently in discussions with the Maharashtra State Council of Educational Research and Training (MSCERT) to develop a syllabus that is accessible for students who have been out of the education system for several years,” Kulkarni added.

The board expects to begin enrollments for classes X and XII for the 2026-27 academic year. Officials hope to have the entire process streamlined and open to the public by July. To support remote learning, the board will leverage its existing partnership with Khan Academy, which has already produced educational videos for various subjects under an MoU with the state govt.