The ‘best of two exams’ program to “reduce the dropout rate” is expected to benefit over 2.11 lakh students of Class X and XII, the state government in Gujarat confirmed on Wednesday.
“This decision of the provincial government will reduce the rate of students dropping out of school. “Students who failed the exams or could not get good results the first time for any reason will get a second chance through ‘best two exams’,” said an official release issued by the state government on Wednesday.
In October, much to the relief of Class X and XII students, the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) had issued a notification to allow all students the ‘best of two’ option in all streams.
In 2023-24, the education board has given the ‘best of two’ option to only Class 12 students studying Science where they could improve their results by appearing in the supplementary exams conducted in the month of June-July. Mid-March, when the board exams are written; and June and July, when the supplementary exams are calculated, they can improve their results by choosing the best of the two.
However, in a notification issued in October, the ‘best of two’ marks obtained by students of Class 10 and 12 were declared final. “This decision to boost the confidence of students will benefit a total of over 2.11 lakh students,” an official release said.
Students who have failed or obtained low marks in Class X and Class XII science and general stream will write the supplementary examination, the best result of main or supplementary examination will be considered and certificate will be given. The decision will apply to students who will write the board exams in March 2025.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Developed India-2047 will be realized only when all the children of the country are educated. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Education Minister Kuber Dindor and State Education Minister Praful Pansheriya, a decision was taken in the interest of the students,” it added.