As COVID-19 restrictions have come to an end and the nation has jumped back to normalcy, Maharashtra Education Board has issued fresh guidelines for students appearing for board SSC and HSC exams next year.
In an official statement, the state board has asked schools and junior colleges to ensure students fulfill the minimum 75 per cent attendance criteria in the two terms in an academic year.
Students will need 75% attendance in both June-October and October-February terms to appear for board exams.
In cases where students have to be exempted from the mandatory attendance requirement, schools have to send a proposal to the board and obtain necessary permission.
As the filling of forms for SSC and HSC exams is under progress, the board on October 21 directed schools to ensure that students fulfill their attendance requirements before the forms are filled.
If reports are to be believed, schools and colleges were strict about attendance when they reopened in June. A few have kept the hybrid mode on with a few classes moving online but again attendance is mandatory.
In some schools, students are still not regular. While, some schools have found students not having returned from their native towns since the pandemic.
Schools are currently on Diwali break. Principals have been directed to alert students with low attendance once they resume.
Last year, the state had not insisted on the mandatory 75% attendance in class as most of the learning had taken place online and even away from their home cities in several cases due to the pandemic situation. The March-April 2021 boards were cancelled due to coronavirus situation.
For those unversed, in a first of its kind, this year, board exam dates were announced in September. HSC exams tentatively begin on February 21, 2023, and SSC exams on March 2. The dates for oral exams are still to be announced.
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