Correspondence exams for failed Class 9 pupils

Unlike last year when government school students, who had failed twice or more in Class 9, were made to give Class 10 exams through CBSE Patrachar (correspondence), the government will now make such students write Class 9 exams through correspondence.

The decision was taken after over 60,000 of the 64,000 students who gave the Class 10 patrachar exams failed.

“Students who failed in Class 9 in last two academic sessions may be permitted to take admission in Patrachar Vidyalaya under Vishwas group to appear for Class 9 examination in academic session 2017-18 and not appear for Class 10 examination,” said a circular issued by the education department to the school principals.

The circular said that no student should be forced to opt for Vishwas group. “It is only a measure to avoid drop out of students from the education system. The acceptance from parents must be obtained,” it said.

This year in Delhi, 64,570 students –many of whom had failed twice or more in Class 9 –gave the Class 10 Board exams through CBSE Patrachar (correspondence) but only 1,654 cleared the exam.

“It is only now that CBSE has allowed Patrachar for Class 9, so these students will opt for it rather than giving Class 10 exams. There will be regular classes for them,” said Atishi Marlena, advisor to education minister Manish Sisodia.

Social Science will be a compulsory subject for students but they can opt out of Mathematics, the circular said. Students have to take two languages and two other subjects from Home Science, Mathematics, and Science, it said.