SCERT’s Twitter poll to help FYJC aspirants

The SSC results are yet to be declared, but all eyes are set on the first-ever CET for First Year Junior College admissions, hence the SCERT reached out to students. Representation pic

The Maharashtra State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has got into online mode with students to understand their views. In a first, the SCERT has drawn up a Twitter poll asking students if they require a question bank for the upcoming Common Entrance Test (CET) for First Year Junior College (FYJC) admissions. Over 87 per cent have responded with ‘yes'.

The SSC result is yet to be declared, but all eyes are set on the first-ever CET for FYJC admissions. Even as the format and curriculum on which this test will be based, are yet to be decided, there is a lot of anxiety over it among students. Considering the worries, the SCERT decided to understand from students if there is a need to provide them with a question-bank, apart from the initially defined structure of the test.

The Twitter poll questioned - "Should a question paper book be prepared and made available for the practice of students for the CET which is being held for the first time for Class XI admissions for the academic year 2021-22?" The poll that went live on Tuesday has already received over 87 per cent responses saying yes. "Considering the response for the poll, the book will definitely be made available for students in time. SCERT will have to create a committee of subject experts on which the test is going to be based to create this question bank," said an official from the SCERT.

Details on the CET

Even as Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination was cancelled in April along with an announcement that a CET will be held for the FYJC admissions; there was no clarity on what this test would be like, until the end of June. Last month, the state education department declared a Government Resolution (GR) detailing the specifics of the test. The optional CET for admission to FYJC will be held in the second half of July or first week of August. Once SSC results are declared which is expected by July 15; students who are willing to appear for the CET will be provided with the option to register for the test on the state board portal. The 100-mark test will be an offline exam and will be based on multiple choice objective type questions. It will be a two-hour exam and a total of 100 marks will be divided in four sections - English, Mathematics, Science and Social Sciences with 25 marks for each. The test will be based on the syllabus of these subjects from the State Board curriculum. Candidates will have multiple choice answers.

Considering that the examination is optional, the process of registration for the test shall begin on the State Board website after the SSC result.

Revision of school reopening order

The Maharashtra State Education department reissued a Government Resolution (GR) regarding the reopening of schools for Stds VIII to XII in the villages that are free of Covid-19. While the new GR has only minimal technical changes from the one declared two days ago; this clearly shows miscommunication within the school education department of the state. As per the new GR, a committee has to be formed at the Panchayat level of the villages, which will comprise local political, administrative and health authorities along with school-heads etc. They are to take on the responsibility of not only deciding on the reopening of schools but also the execution of this. The village should not have reported any Covid-19 patient 30 days prior to the reopening of the school. Other detailed instructions remain the same as those in the old GR.

87
Percentage of students who want the question bank