Having a new syllabus has not just kept the SSC students on their toes, but even the teachers. While some teachers are planning to write to Balbharati (Maharashtra State Bureau of Textbook Production & Curriculum Research) to reduce the language portion for next academic year, some other teachers want the bureau to make language exam easier for students to score in board exams.
It is being said that this time the SSC students will have a tough time in appearing for 100 marks language papers for the board exam. Teachers feel that scrapping internal marks for the oral test in language exams will make it tougher for average students to even pass the board exam. Not just this, but the teachers are also concerned for the students with learning disabilities who find language subjects usually difficult.
Rajesh Pandya, Hindi language teacher and vice president of Teachers' Democratic Front, said, "Earlier in language subjects syllabus use to have 16-17 lessons with grammar. This year's syllabus has 22 lessons including grammar. The teachers are still struggling to complete the portion. We will write to the bureau to reduce the portion in all language subjects and make the paper pattern easier so that students can score to compete with other board students."
Another teacher of English language subject, from the central suburb, said, "This time, grammar will be asked for 20 marks approximately in board exam which will be tough for average students to clear. I am wondering how the students with a learning disability will score. Bureau is testing students only on their writing skills. What if any student is good at speaking. The bureau should have not scarped 20 marks orals in which we use to test students for speaking as well. That use to also help them in scoring marks for language."
According to English language teachers, the students good in studies use to score 80 marks and above in English language papers. But in the first semester, that score of good scorers have come down below 80 because of not having oral. Like teachers even students find the portion to be lengthy for language papers.
Suresh Chipkar, an SSC student, said, "This semester exam I found language papers to be lengthy. I managed to solve all question in English language paper, but could not complete my Marathi language paper."