Playing with education system

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Playing with education system

Maharashtra government and central governments have both played with the education system of the country. Maharashtra government canceled examinations of 10th and 12th exams due to Covid-19 pandemic for the consecutive second year. It is very disappointing decision for the brilliant students. They will be measured with average students now. Not only that, the students who were facing difficulties in passing even board exams, have passed with merit or at least more than 80 percent. Already, the students have no need to appear for exam till 8th standard and this year, there were not exams for 9th, 10th and 12th standards. All students have come on equal line and there is no yardstick to judge their ability and calibre. The students and parents who are elated now for their students have been elevated to upper standards without exams, will have to repent tomorrow once these students will enter into actual field of competition. Because these students have no experience of examination et al and so they will definitely not be able to withstand the tension and pressures of exams. This is very dangerous situation for the students as well as their parents. As they have no experience of exams, they will not be successful in later years exams barring a few. This is not students’ fault but it is the governments that have played with them. Suddenly, a huge wave of meritorious students has arrived thanks to Covid waves. Now it is very difficult to adjust these students in the eleventh standard as for as tenth exam is concerned. In Maharashtra, it was decided by the state government to conduct CET for admission in the eleventh standard. But, Mumbai High Court has nullified the state government’s order pushing it into deep crisis. As a result of court ruling, even the students who have secured more than 95 percent marks will not be able to get admissions in reputed colleges as cut off list will end at 95 percent. The sudden flood of merit in Maharashtra has come due to illogical and extremely unrealistic decision of state government to elevate students in eleventh class without exams. Also, the marks are given on the assessment of school teachers and it is no secret that, these teachers must have showered marks on them lavishly for showing better school result. The state government has played with students’ lives by not allowing to appear them for exams. Now, a big issue of 11th admission has come to the fore for the education department. It is a challenge to adjust and admit all the students in 11th standard as the number of meritorious students has reached to minimum four lakhs. Now the parents are demanding to increase the seats for eleventh standard which will be anther blunder. The decision to conduct CET for eleventh was wise decision, but it is quashed by high court. This is really a big blow to state as the onus will be on government to see that, every student gets admitted. This is extremely daunting task now. The arts students have been hit hardest as there is a provision for students to avoid Mathematics. So, passing percentage of arts students is higher in normal circumstances. Now, the Covid has raised the bar very high. There are more than one lakh 28 thousand students who have got marks between 85 to 90 percent. The major chunk of these students will remain deprived of admission. State government should have forecasted this situation and found the correct solution much earlier. To adjust so much large number of students in 11th standard is a challenge that is hard to overcome in any condition. The state government and Modi government have played with the students’ future.