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Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Government gives status quo on teachers appointment policy
Mumbai: In a significant reprieve for thousands of students and teachers across Maharashtra, the state government has temporarily halted the implementation of the controversial Sanch Manyata policy. The move comes after the Bombay High Court ordered a status quo on the government resolution (GR) dated March 15, 2024, which had sought to revise norms for teacher appointments in government schools. The Sanch Manyata policy had triggered widespread opposition from educators, parents, and activists. A key clause restricted teacher appointments in schools with fewer than 20 students—regardless of the number of classes or grades being taught—effectively allowing just one teacher to manage multiple classes in such institutions. The rule impacted nearly 18,000 government schools across the state, many of them in rural and tribal regions. Critics argued the policy was not only impractical but also a direct violation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, which mandates equitable and quality education for all children. A group of 13 parents from Wardha district filed a public interest litigation, drawing statewide attention to the issue. The Sanch Manyata policy had replaced earlier guidelines that ensured subject-specific teachers were available for different classes. During a hearing on May 5, the High Court directed the government to maintain the status quo until further orders. In compliance, the Director of Secondary Education, Mahesh Palkar, issued a circular on Wednesday instructing all education officers to suspend implementation of the new policy. 'All education officers are hereby directed to maintain status quo regarding the Sanch Manyata GR until further notice,' the circular stated. Sharad Gosavi, Director of Primary Education, later confirmed that these instructions were communicated to district officials during a review meeting held on May 21. The decision has been welcomed by teacher unions, though they maintain that the fight is far from over. 'This is a small victory. We will not rest until this GR is completely withdrawn,' said Vijay Kombe, president of the Maharashtra State Primary Teachers Committee. Since its introduction in February for the 2024–25 academic year, the policy has sparked a series of protests and demonstrations in districts such as Wardha, Ratnagiri, and Satara. Educationists and local leaders have repeatedly warned that the policy disproportionately affects students in rural areas, compromising both teaching quality and learning outcomes.
Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
In Pune division, girls again outshine boys in SSC exam
In the Pune division, girls have once again trumped boys as far as the results of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam held in February-March 2025 by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education go. As per the information given by the state board, a total 264,736 students including 141,378 boys and 123,358 girls registered for the SSC exam from the Pune division. Of these, 263,154 students appeared for the exam and 249,507 cleared it. Among those who passed the exam, 130,581 were boys and 118,926 girls. While the pass percentage among boys stood at 92.96%, girls achieved a remarkable pass percentage of 96.93%. This implies girls outperformed boys by a margin of 3.97%. The results were declared online on Tuesday, May 13, at 1 pm. This year, the Pune division recorded an overall pass percentage of 94.81%, placing it 4th among 9 divisions in the state. However within the division, the Pune district claimed the top spot with an outstanding result of 97.26%; followed by Solapur district in second place with 92.83%; and Ahilya Nagar in third place with 91.85%. Among all the students in the Pune division, 79,824 scored more than 75% marks, showcasing a strong academic performance across the region. Notably, the girls consistently outshined the boys across all districts in the division. In addition to regular students, 9,760 re-examinees from the Pune division also appeared for the exam. Of these, 5,883 cleared it, with a pass percentage of 61.50%. When combining the results of regular and repeat candidates, the overall success rate for the Pune division remains steady at 94.81%. 'The data clearly highlights that in all three districts of Pune division - Pune, Solapur, and Ahilya Nagar, girls have consistently achieved higher pass rates than boys, further solidifying their academic supremacy in this year's SSC results,' said Sharad Gosavi, director of the state board.
Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
English medium students record highest pass percentage in SSC exams
Students from the English medium have once again emerged at the top, recording the highest pass percentage of 98.44% across mediums in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam results recently declared by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE). Close on the heels of English medium students are Urdu medium students with a pass percentage of 93.59%, followed by Marathi medium students with a pass percentage of 92.85%. The SSC exam was conducted in a total eight mediums. According to data released by the board, 351,959 English medium students from 4,319 schools registered for the SSC exam with all of them appearing for the exam and 345,962 clearing it, yielding the highest pass rate at 98.44%. Whereas 88,523 Urdu medium students from 1,304 schools registered for the SSC exam out of which 87,773 students appeared and 81,149 passed, yielding a 93.59% pass rate. As regards the Marathi medium, 1,076,431 students from 16,534 schools registered for the SSC exam out of which 1,066,900 students appeared and 990,616 passed, yielding a 92.85% pass rate. Meanwhile, Telugu medium students recorded a pass rate of 96.09%; Gujarati medium students a pass rate of 94.44%; Kannada medium students 91.52%; Hindi medium students 90.48%; and Sindhi medium students the lowest pass percentage of 82.61%. Sharad Gosavi, chairman of the state board, said, 'Students from all mediums have scored well but this year, English medium students have scored the highest passing percentage. Compared to the high number of Marathi medium students, the pass percentage is a bit less but we are glad that students from all eight mediums through which the exam was conducted have fared well this year.' Meenal Deshpande, principal of a reputed school, said, 'We are thrilled but not surprised by the strong showing of English medium students. The language of instruction plays a significant role in how well students grasp conceptual knowledge, especially in science and math. Our focus has been on holistic preparation, regular testing, concept-based learning, and emotional support for students. The 98% plus result is the outcome of collective efforts by students, teachers, and parents.' Another principal of a Zilla Parishad school in Pune district who did not wish to be named said, 'While English medium schools have better infrastructure and exposure, Marathi medium students have proven their merit despite challenges. A 92.85% pass rate is a matter of pride for us. However, there is a need for more digital resources, modern teaching aids, and teacher training in rural areas to bridge the performance gap. Our students are no less capable; they only need equal opportunities.'
Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
State's SSC pass percentage drops to 94.10%
The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) on Tuesday declared the class 10 Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination results recording an overall pass percentage of 94.10%, a 1.71% dip compared to last year's pass percentage of 95.81%. However, the Konkan division once again secured the top spot with the highest pass percentage of 98.82% while the Nagpur division recorded the lowest pass percentage at 90.78%. This year too, girls outperformed boys with 96.14% girls passing as compared to 92.31% boys, marking a 3.83% gender gap in favour of girls. This year's SSC exam was conducted from February 21 to March 17, and the board too declared the results well ahead of schedule. Last year, the SSC results were announced on May 27, which was the earliest date for announcement of results ever since the board was established in 1975. Traditionally, results would be declared in the month of June. Board chairman Sharad Gosavi told Hindustan Times, 'The overall result is satisfactory. All divisions have performed well. Our staff worked tirelessly to declare the results early while also ensuring strict vigilance against malpractices across the state.' Asked about the dip in pass percentage, Gosavi said, 'Every year, the results vary by 1.5 to 2 percentage points on an average. There is no specific reason behind this year's decline.' Gosavi added that several reforms have been introduced to reduce exam-related stress and improve efficiency. 'A one-day gap was provided between the main written exams to reduce stress. Our goal was to ensure that class 11 admissions start on time. We are also aiming to declare supplementary exam results promptly,' he said. As part of the board's initiative to curb cheating, students were informed about the consequences of malpractices during exams, and additional police support was deployed to maintain a copy-free environment. 'The recognition of any exam centre where malpractices occurred will be revoked after a detailed investigation,' Gosavi said. Students seeking re-evaluation of marks in any subject (other than category subjects) can apply online via the board's portal either personally or through their schools.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Maharashtra SSC results 2025: Success rate sees slide both in state & Pune divn; ‘normal fluctuation': Board
Pune: Stricter invigilation measures have led to a slight drop in the overall performance in this year's SSC (Std X) examinations, results of which were declared by Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Tuesday. The state logged a success rate of 94.1%, compared to last year's 95.8%. The board's chairman, Sharad Gosavi, however, said a 1% to 2% fluctuation in the results is normal and expected each year. This year's exams were held 10 days earlier than usual, and results were declared about two weeks ahead of schedule. A total of 15,46,579 students appeared for the exams held across 5,130 centres in 62 subjects in eight mediums. Of these, 7,60,325 boys (92.3%) and 6,95,108 girls (96.1%) passed, with girls outperforming boys by 3.8%. Among students with special needs, 92.3% passed, while 39.4% of 23,954 repeaters cleared the exam. Sindhudurg scored the highest among all districts in Maharashtra with a success rate of 99.3%, while Gadchiroli scored the lowest with 82.7% division topped with 98.8%, followed by Kolhapur (96.9%) and Mumbai (95.8%). Nagpur recorded the lowest success rate at 90.8%.The number of 100 percenters increased from 187 last year to 211 this year. Additionally, 246,602 students received grace marks for participation in NCC, scouts and guides, sports, and cultural activities. Across the state, 49 schools registered a 0% success rate, while 7,924 schools had 100%. A total of 34,393 students failed in two or fewer subjects, due to which they will be 'Allowed-to-Keep-term' and can apply for the Std XI admission Stress on 'Copy-Free Exam'Teachers attributed this year's decline in the pass percentage in both Stds X and XII to stricter invigilation measures. The board enhanced surveillance and deployed 271 flying squads, apart from keeping an eye via video conference on various chief minister Devendra Fadnavis's 100-day plan for the school education department, 'Copy Mukt Abhiyan' featured prominently. A member of a flying squad, on the condition of anonymity, said, "We had a list of sensitive schools where malpractices were reported previously. We made multiple visits to those. We also visited other schools often. Another major difference was that teachers from other schools were asked to invigilate students in sensitive schools. Apart from it, many schools were monitored via Zoom by officials in respective collector's offices. All this led to fewer opportunities to cheat, and hence that must have definitely impacted the results."In the 2025 Std X exams, centre directors and supervisors from 701 sensitive exam centres out of a total 5,130 saw an overhaul. "The board decided to de-recognise 37 centres where malpractices were reported. Following investigations, these centres will be shut from next year. To restore public trust in the system, everyone from divisional commissioners to collectors to police commissioners and Zilla Parishad CEOs were asked to be involved in the system. They made surprise visits to centres to deter wrongdoing and ensure a fair exam," said Time to Revise?The exams this year were conducted about 10 days ahead of the usual schedule. "Since this was the first time the exams were conducted in advance, the students must also not have been prepared for the change and would have had lesser time to prepare. That may have also impacted the results," said Bhagwan Pandekar, a teacher at Laxmanrao Apte Prashala in Medium Ahead Of MarathiAmong the eight mediums of instruction — English, Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada, Urdu, Sindhi, Telugu, and Hindi — English medium schools recorded the highest pass percentage at 98.4. Across 4,319 English medium schools in the state, 351,431 students appeared for the Std X exam, of which 345,962 passed. In contrast, Marathi medium schools, which have the largest number of institutions at 16,534, saw 1,066,900 students appear for the exam, with 990,616 passing, resulting in a pass percentage of medium schools, with 1,304 institutions, reported a pass percentage of 93.6, while Hindi medium schools, numbering 612, saw a slightly lower success rate of 90.5. Among the smaller language groups, the pass percentages were 94.4 in Gujarati medium schools (46), 91.5 in Kannada (78), 82.6 in Sindhi (one), and 96.1% in Telugu (five schools).Supplementary ExamsA total of 86,641 students are eligible for re-examination scheduled from June 24 to July 16. The students can apply for the same online from May 15. Students can apply online for marks re-totalling from May 14 to May 28. Students who wish to apply for re-evaluation need to apply first for a photocopy of their answer sheet online between May 14 and May 28. After receiving the photocopy, they need to apply online within five working days at their respective divisional Club ReducesStudents scoring 90% and above reduced from 81,991 in 2024 to 81,809 in 2025. However, it still remains higher than 2023, when 66,578 students got above 90% marks. Similarly, in 2025, as many as 488,745 students secured distinction (75% and above), which is a decline from 2024 when 558,021 students got over 75% Stricter invigilation measures have led to a slight drop in the overall performance in this year's SSC (Std X) examinations, results of which were declared by Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Tuesday. The state logged a success rate of 94.1%, compared to last year's 95.8%. The board's chairman, Sharad Gosavi, however, said a 1% to 2% fluctuation in the results is normal and expected each year. This year's exams were held 10 days earlier than usual, and results were declared about two weeks ahead of schedule. A total of 15,46,579 students appeared for the exams held across 5,130 centres in 62 subjects in eight mediums. Of these, 7,60,325 boys (92.3%) and 6,95,108 girls (96.1%) passed, with girls outperforming boys by 3.8%. Among students with special needs, 92.3% passed, while 39.4% of 23,954 repeaters cleared the exam. Sindhudurg scored the highest among all districts in Maharashtra with a success rate of 99.3%, while Gadchiroli scored the lowest with 82.7% division topped with 98.8%, followed by Kolhapur (96.9%) and Mumbai (95.8%). Nagpur recorded the lowest success rate at 90.8%.The number of 100 percenters increased from 187 last year to 211 this year. Additionally, 246,602 students received grace marks for participation in NCC, scouts and guides, sports, and cultural activities. Across the state, 49 schools registered a 0% success rate, while 7,924 schools had 100%. A total of 34,393 students failed in two or fewer subjects, due to which they will be 'Allowed-to-Keep-term' and can apply for the Std XI admission Stress on 'Copy-Free Exam'Teachers attributed this year's decline in the pass percentage in both Stds X and XII to stricter invigilation measures. The board enhanced surveillance and deployed 271 flying squads, apart from keeping an eye via video conference on various chief minister Devendra Fadnavis's 100-day plan for the school education department, 'Copy Mukt Abhiyan' featured prominently. A member of a flying squad, on the condition of anonymity, said, "We had a list of sensitive schools where malpractices were reported previously. We made multiple visits to those. We also visited other schools often. Another major difference was that teachers from other schools were asked to invigilate students in sensitive schools. Apart from it, many schools were monitored via Zoom by officials in respective collector's offices. All this led to fewer opportunities to cheat, and hence that must have definitely impacted the results."In the 2025 Std X exams, centre directors and supervisors from 701 sensitive exam centres out of a total 5,130 saw an overhaul. "The board decided to de-recognise 37 centres where malpractices were reported. Following investigations, these centres will be shut from next year. To restore public trust in the system, everyone from divisional commissioners to collectors to police commissioners and Zilla Parishad CEOs were asked to be involved in the system. They made surprise visits to centres to deter wrongdoing and ensure a fair exam," said Time to Revise?The exams this year were conducted about 10 days ahead of the usual schedule. "Since this was the first time the exams were conducted in advance, the students must also not have been prepared for the change and would have had lesser time to prepare. That may have also impacted the results," said Bhagwan Pandekar, a teacher at Laxmanrao Apte Prashala in Medium Ahead Of MarathiAmong the eight mediums of instruction — English, Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada, Urdu, Sindhi, Telugu, and Hindi — English medium schools recorded the highest pass percentage at 98.4. Across 4,319 English medium schools in the state, 351,431 students appeared for the Std X exam, of which 345,962 passed. In contrast, Marathi medium schools, which have the largest number of institutions at 16,534, saw 1,066,900 students appear for the exam, with 990,616 passing, resulting in a pass percentage of medium schools, with 1,304 institutions, reported a pass percentage of 93.6, while Hindi medium schools, numbering 612, saw a slightly lower success rate of 90.5. Among the smaller language groups, the pass percentages were 94.4 in Gujarati medium schools (46), 91.5 in Kannada (78), 82.6 in Sindhi (one), and 96.1% in Telugu (five schools).Supplementary ExamsA total of 86,641 students are eligible for re-examination scheduled from June 24 to July 16. The students can apply for the same online from May 15. Students can apply online for marks re-totalling from May 14 to May 28. Students who wish to apply for re-evaluation need to apply first for a photocopy of their answer sheet online between May 14 and May 28. After receiving the photocopy, they need to apply online within five working days at their respective divisional Club ReducesStudents scoring 90% and above reduced from 81,991 in 2024 to 81,809 in 2025. However, it still remains higher than 2023, when 66,578 students got above 90% marks. Similarly, in 2025, as many as 488,745 students secured distinction (75% and above), which is a decline from 2024 when 558,021 students got over 75% marks.
