Take that, detractors of state-funded education. Students are not buying claims that state board schools don't hold a candle to ICSE and international schools. Case in point: the number of takers for secondary school certificate (SSC) and higher secondary certificate (HSC) examinations, conducted by the state board, has been growing by leaps and bounds every year.
This year, the number of students appearing for both SSC and HSC examinations from the Mumbai division, which includes Thane and Raigad, has risen by more than 4%. About 3.66 lakh students (up from around 3.5 lakh last year) will appear for the SSC examinations and 3.11 lakh students (an increase of 11,000 students) will sit for the HSC examinations. Similar runs the story across the state; one lakh more students will appear for the SSC examinations - a 7% leap from last year.
Experts said this year's figures, which are consistent with a trend that has been in place for the last four to five years, shows that despite tough competition from others board schools, the state board remains a choice of the masses. They attributed this rise in number of takers to a decreasing school drop-out rate and affordability of state board schools.
Vasant Kalpande, former chairperson of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, said the growth in numbers is a recent development. Up till a few years ago, barely 4 lakh students from all across the state used to sit for the board's examinations, he recalled. The reason behind the rise in the student strength, he reasoned, is an increased awareness among parents and students to clear the board examinations to land a job. "Nowadays, the Mumbai division sees more students because it is urbanised and hence, there is greater awareness among to attempt an examination so that they get a job with a decent salary," he said.
More girls are also taking the examinations. "Due to the skewed sex ratio, boys always outnumbered girls in board examinations. This time, the dropout rate among girls has come down. And girls are better performers as compared to boys. Most of the first-class and distinction students are girls," Kalpande added.
Basanti Roy, former secretary of Mumbai division, said the large number of private candidates has added to the strength of those appearing for the examinations. "The provision to allow students to appear privately has attracted many.”
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