State wants XI in all ICSE,CBSE schools

“We will consider asking CBSE and ICSE schools to start standards XI and XII for future admission,” Thorat told reporters during the weekly Janata Darbar organised by the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC).

If those schools do start junior colleges,the seats introduced would reduce the pressure on existing junior colleges,where the seats are contested by students of all boards and where,the government believes,students of central boards hold an edge because their exams allow higher scoring.

Thorat defended the best-5 system,which totals only the top five of any SSC student’s six subject scores. The High Court has quashed the system but Thorat said the state had taken the decision for the welfare of 16 lakh SSC board students; it is a long-term move and concerns more than just admission.

Best-5 is the state’s third consecutive attempt at making admission easier for SSC students. The previous two,percentile and 90:10,too had been quashed in court.

Thorat said the state would ensure every student gets admission to Class XI. The process has been delayed because of the uncertainty over best-5. Thorat said the process would also be conducted online in Mumbai and other places; the HSC and SSC results too had been announced online.

The state is also preparing a government resolution on plans to reduce stress on students,part of the Centre’s Right to Education policy,Thorat said.