‘New pattern could be reason for leak’

Students and teachers in Mumbai are surprised that the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) Marathi paper was leaked on Whatsapp on Thursday, as it is easy to pass due to its new activity-based format. But they agree that the format could just have been the reason behind the leak.

This was the first time that the activity-based format was introduced for Marathi. The new pattern doesn’t require students to memorise answers, instead they are tested on their application of the language. Even when the English paper was turned to activity-based format last year, students had complained that it was tough.

Teachers admitted there is a possibility that since the paper contained lots of objective questions, it might have been easy for students to copy, said teachers. “The only reason this paper might have leaked is because the pattern was new and students were apprehensive about it,” said Uday Nare, a teacher with Hansraj Morarji Public School and Junior College, Andheri.

Till last year, papers like book-keeping and accountancy were leaked, which are considered tough, but Marathi doesn’t usually fall in the same category. It records above 90% pass rate every year, and those opting for it are mostly students who have learned the language in schools.

Teachers said 20 out of 100 marks are for oral tests conducted by schools or colleges. “Since the oral exams are conducted internally, students score at least 15 marks in it. So it’s not tough for them to meet the minimum passing criteria,” said Shantilal D Shah, principal, MVM Junior College, Andheri.

There is a need to raise awareness about Fragile X syn drome (FXS), a rare genetic disor der that often leads to autism said doctors during a discussion at a Vile Parle hospital on Friday

The FXS condition can lead to both physical abnormalities and neurodevelopmental. The com mon symptoms include hand flapping, social anxiety, gaze avoidance and delayed speech development. Shalini Kedia founder of FXS Society, India, a network that is working towards raising awareness about the con dition, said based on the interna tional data available, around four lakh Indian children could have FXS. “There is no cure, but the symptoms can be treated once it is diagnosed,” she said.

She added that many cases of autism are not linked back to FXS, due to lack of awareness Doctors said FXS is caused by an alteration in the DNA, in which the brain cells don’t produce a protein called ‘Fragile X menta retardation 1’, essential for nor mal cognitive development. FXS can be diagnosed prenatally through an amniocentesis test “FXS is the most common known cause of autism. A positive FXS test not only clinches the diagno sis of autism, but also enables us to test other family members who then can benefit by early inter vention,” said Dr Samir Dalwai president, Indian Academy of Paediatrics, Mumbai.

THE NEW PATTERN DOESN’T REQUIRE STUDENTS TO MEMORISE ANSWERS. THEY ARE TESTED ON THEIR APPLICATION OF THE LANGUAGE