SSC HSC Exam 2021: Varsha Gaikwad announces concessions & guidelines for final exams

There was some confusion among students as well as parents regarding the 10th and 12th exams in the wake of the Corona crisis. Maharashtra State Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad has clarified some things in a press conference and has also announced a big relief for the class 10th and 12th class students.

It has now been announced that students in Class 10 and 12 will have get half an hour more time for the exam. The class 10 (SSC Exam) exams will be held from April 29 to May 20, the state education board has announced. The examination for Class 12 (HSC Exam) will be held from 23rd April .

Varsha Gaikwad has put an end to the discussions on whether the exams will be held online or offline in the wake of the Corona crisis. Given the geographical location of Maharashtra, the exams will have to be conducted offline. However, students will have an examination center in their own school or junior college.

In case of shortage of classrooms in exceptional circumstances, an examination meeting will be arranged at the examination sub-center in the adjoining school, Gaikwad clarified.

Check out the concessions and guidelines for the final exams:

• Conducting practicals in school has been tough this year and therefore the state education board has decided to do away with science practical exams for SSC, replacing them with internal assignments.
• The internal assignments submissions will take place after written exams (From May 21-June10). This will be conducted in the respective schools. If any child falls sick during this submission period, an additional grace period of 15 days will be granted for submissions.
• There will also be special concessions for differently abled students. To avoid crowding submissions will be done batchwise. For further queries,visit http://mahahsscboard.in
• As practicals in HSC are crucial for further professional courses, we have not cancelled them but have limited the number of experiments to just five/six this year. Colleges will be informed separately about the details 
• These exams/journal submissions will take place after written exams (From May 22 to June 10). Examiners (internal & external) will be provided by the same college. Exams/submissions will be done batchwise under strict safety protocols.
• If any child falls sick during the exam/ submission period or exams, an additional grace period of 15 days for the college to reconduct his or her practical exam/ submission. For further queries, visit http://mahahsscboard.in
• As assured, students will give the written exams in the same school/college only. Exams will be held offline. 
• Students have had lesser writing practice this year, so we will be giving extra time to finish answer papers i.e. 30 more minutes for an 80 marks paper and 15 more minutes for a 40/50 mark paper, a revised time sheet will be shared. 
• Students absent due to Covid infection or containment restrictions will have a special exam in June, the school will provide their details to board. This exam will be treated as main exam, separate from supplementary exam to be held later.
• There will be no separate fees for the special exam for Covid affected students. However, this exam will be held only in select examination centres and the gap between papers will be lesser.
• Due to Covid-19, the curriculum was earlier cut by 25%. Questions will only be from this reduced syllabus. However, for Old/Repeater/Improvement Students, this concession is not applicable
• All exam centres will have a designated isolation room. If a student shows symptoms mid-exam the student can be allowed to continue if he/she wishes to write the paper there. The nearest govt health centres will provide assistance needed.
• Students will have to reach exam centre atleast an hour before to ensure Covid protocols are followed. Question papers will be given 10 minutes in advance so students can plan how to answer.
• For the MMR region, the board are sending a proposal to allow the hall ticket issued to students to be treated as a travel pass for the use of public transport.
• State's Chief Secretary advised to treat teachers supervising board exams & board officials as front line workers and be vaccinated on priority. 
  
  

  Conducting practicals in school has been tough this year and therefore we have decided that students need to be given a concession here. That is why, to start with, we have decided to do away with science practical exams for SSC, replacing them with internal assignments.

  — Varsha Gaikwad (@VarshaEGaikwad) March 20, 2021