Despite student demands for online tests, the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) has stated that SSC or Class 10 and HSC or Class 12 board exams would be scheduled and offline.
The news came after students in the state staged protests earlier this week, demanding that the offline examinations be cancelled because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
“It would be impossible to administer the test online due to the enormous number of students who will be taking the exam and other technological challenges such as device non-availability. Due to this, the board has decided to hold the board examinations offline, said Sharad Gosavi, the director of the Maharashtra board.
Exams for the Maharashtra HSC will be held from March 4 to April 30, with practicals from February 14 to March 3. Between March 31 and April 18, the board will hold “out of turn” tests to perform practicals, internal, or oral exams for students who cannot attend exams on the regular days.
Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, the board will not collect any additional costs for out-of-turn examinations.
The Maharashtra SSC theoretical examinations will be held from March 15 to April 4, while the practicals or oral exams will be performed from February 25 to March 3.
The out-of-turn test for SSC students will be held between April 5 and April 22.
According to board authorities, 16,25,311 students have registered for SSC examinations, and 14,72,562 have registered for HSC exams.
This year, there will be no predetermined test centres, and students will do their exams from their schools and junior colleges, according to the board.
Students will be allowed an additional 15 minutes for papers worth 40-60 marks and 30 minutes for papers worth 70-100 marks.