Keeping terms

Father Joe Palli Principal, Loyola High SchoolI vividly remember the incident that led to the introduction of the ATKT system in Goa at the ...

Father Joe Palli Principal, Loyola High School
I vividly remember the incident that led to the introduction of the ATKT system in Goa at the SSC level in 1978; I happened to be there at that time. A certain Edgar Nazareth had taken admission in St. Brito8217;s High School after having studied for many years in Africa. He did well in the examination, scoring around 65 per cent, but failed in Hindi, and thus lost a year. He went directly to the then state education minister and put forth his case. Purely on the merits of this case, the minister decided to introduce the ATKT system in schools. While it was too late for the boy in question to avail of the concession by the time the policy was changed, the system has since helped innumerable students by saving an important year of their academic lives.

I endorse the introduction of this system at the SSC level, because it is of tremendous advantage to students who want to go in for higher studies but have not been able to clear the examination due to their inability to pass a certain subject. With ATKT, they can pursue the next course, provided they clear the failed subject within the ordained time limit.

Take, for instance, a boy who does not have an aptitude for languages and has thus been unable to clear his Hindi or Marathi paper but has done well in science or mathematics 8211; why should he lose out an entire year for a subject he is anyway not going to pursue later in life?

The basic intention behind ATKT is the facilitation of higher studies. And if some students avail of the system to take up a job, it simply means that they can do without the certificate for their livelihood, in which case ATKT does not come into the picture. Thus their not returning to take the examination should not be a matter of concern.

I am all for endorsing this system. Like any other system, it can lead to malpractices but its advantages for the student community far exceed its disadvantages.

Father Kenny Misquita Principal St. Vincent8217;s High School
I do not think it is a good idea to introduce the ATKT system for SSC students at this stage simply because right now there are no alternatives to this certificate. The students require the SSC qualification for any kind of a job, for their own self-confidence and for acquiring status in society. The SSC is like a passport to a job these days 8211; it is a minimum qualification required for employment.

If the government wants to introduce ATKT with the idea that the students can take up a job and then later clear the examination, it needs to be known that this cannot work. Hardly two or three students might come back to clear it after some years, and that too if they need a promotion at their place of work.

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Even to get into a technical institute, one requires an SSC certificate. If the government had an alternative system then it would have made sense to endorse the ATKT system at the SSC level. In that case, there is no need to wait till Std. X, those with an inclination towards arts or technical training could be branched off from Std. IX itself.

Why thrust mathematics or science down the throats of those who would not be needing them even for those two extra years? Students can then go for studying their specialisations after Std. VIII itself and not waste time pursuing subjects like three different languages or others where their interests do not lie.

But as things stand now, ATKT cannot work because the absence of the SSC certificate may not get the students a job in the first place, and if it does, few will consider it worthwhile to go back to clear the examination.

Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More