Shillong: The Meghalaya government is likely to review one of its controversial policies in which a student can pass the 10th board examination while failing in mathematics and science.
The Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE) formulated this policy a decade ago, despite several educationists vehemently opposing this decision.
“We would review this policy and would make mathematics a compulsory subject, which means that to clear the board examination the student has to clear mathematics and four other subjects out of the total six subjects,” Education Minister Rakkam Sangma said.
He said that the decision is only for the mathematics subject and not for science, which means students may fail in science and still pass the Class 10 Board examination.
“We will be moving step by step. We would be reviewing the syllabus of the MBoSE and a commission is being formed to be headed by experts that would suggest ways to bring about positive changes in the state education board,” Sangma said.
According to a 2016 MBOSE rule, a student sitting for the Secondary School Leaving Certificate or 10th board exams must clear five out of the six subjects.
The student will have passed if he/she meets this criterion, even if the failed subject is maths or science.
Earlier, students had to pass both these subjects, but currently only English and Modern Indian Language are compulsory to pass subjects.
Educationists have argued that without mathematics students don’t tend to form a scientific temperament.
Moreover, making mathematics a non-compulsory subject means students don’t pay adequate attention to this important subject, which is required in everyday life, they said.
