Ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly Elections on November 20, the state education board has proposed to lower the minimum passing marks required in Maths and Science to 20 out of 100, from the current 35, in its new school curriculum framework.
While students who struggle with these subjects may find this change a relief, there is a catch. Students who achieve the passing mark will be labeled as ‘passed’ on their mark sheets, but a special note will indicate that they are not eligible to pursue maths or science courses.
Officials have clarified that the reduction in passing marks is still in the proposal stage and will be finalized when the State Curriculum Framework-School Education (SCF – SE) is fully implemented, which is expected to take a few more years, as per media reports.
Sharad Gosavi, chairman of the State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, mentioned that the change in passing marks will be implemented once the new curriculum is rolled out across the state.
Rahul Rekhawar, director of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), explained that this adjustment is part of the approved new curriculum framework and aims to protect students from failing the class 10th examinations due to Maths and Science. The goal is to ensure that students are not unfairly pushed out of the education system.
Rekhawar also noted that students who wish to can still appear for the supplementary exam and regular exam the following year, pass the subjects, and receive a new mark sheet. This change is seen as an additional feature to the existing system, according to Rekhwar.
The proposal has received positive feedback from academicians and school teachers who believe that the fear of failing has been a significant issue among students, leading to stress.
“They may have a remark on their mark sheet, but they will not be held back at the Class 10 level and risk dropping out,” stated Mahendra Ganpule, former head of the Maharashtra School Principals’ Association.
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