Vinod Tawde convenes meeting over SSC results

The abysmal performance by 167 schools in the state in the SSC exams wherein not a single student managed to pass the board exam has prompted school education minister Vinod Tawde to convene a meeting of board and department officials on Friday to discuss ways and means of addressing the issue. According to sources, the continuation of the schools could be under threat after the meeting.

The recently declared SSC results on June 6 threw up some startling facts, which is also cause for concern for the school education department. Out of the more than 21,000 schools, a large number of schools had secured an overall pass percentage of only 0-30 per cent.

Krishna Patil, secretary, Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE), said, “As compared to last year the number of schools having a zero pass percentage has gone up to 61. Last year, the number was 29.”

He added that, concerned with the showing by schools, Mr Tawde had asked the MSBSHSE to conduct a meeting wherein the chairmen of all divisional boards and the principals of the concerned schools would be asked to remain present.

“The board conducts an inquiry every year into zero pass per cent schools but considering the increase in the number of schools Mr Tawde has said that he would remain present for the meeting,” said Mr Patil. The number of schools with zero pass percentage is highest in Mumbai and Latur division of the board with 16 schools each followed by Aurangabad division that has 15 such schools.