75 attendance minimum for taking exam

The Central Board of Secondary Education has issued notifications to all the heads of its affiliated institutions that students from Classes IX to XII must maintain a minimum of 75 per cent attendance in order to be eligible for taking the promotion examinations.

The Central Board of Secondary Education CBSE has issued notifications to all the heads of its affiliated institutions that students from Classes IX to XII must maintain a minimum of 75 per cent attendance in order to be eligible for taking the promotion examinations.

The circular, dated September 22, states, 8220;No student from a school affiliated to the Board shall be eligible to take the examination unless he has completed 75 per cent of attendance counted from the opening of class IX/X/XI/XII up to the first of the month preceding the month in which the examination commences in the subject of internal assessment.8221;

Anu Kumar, Principal, Stepping Stones School, Sector 37, says, 8220;We do face attendance problems from students, particularly of Class XII, since they have coaching classes to attend simultaneously. But we are strict with the 75 per cent attendance rule. Students should realise the significance of being regular. The orders are in the right spirit.8221;

The order has clearly mentioned that every year in February and March, the Board receives letters from a large number of candidates with pleas to the chairman to consider shortage of attendance.

The notice further states that a shortage of only upto 15 per cent of attendance may be condoned by the chairman, on the recommendation of the principal of the school.

8220;The candidates/parents while representing the matter to the Board invariably state that their school has never informed them about the shortage of attendance. In view of this, the condition of completion of 75 per cent attendance should be brought to the notice of candidates as well as parents,8221; reads the notification.

Students, however, are not happy with the guidelines as they find it difficult to shuttle between school and private tuitions.

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8220;I have to attend coaching classes also, some of which are held during school hours. Since I am preparing for competitive examinations, I cannot afford to miss them. No matter how hard I try, it is difficult to attend school most of the time,8221; says Mohit Bansal, a student of Class XII.