Case Study

‘Best of Five’ policy

Udit Khanijow
MBA Tech. (C.S.)
Roll no. 314

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 Contents

Intrduction ............................................................................................................. 3
My Outlook ............................................................................................................ 3
Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 5
References ............................................................................................................. 6

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INTRODUCTION

The government of Maharashtra brought in the ‘Best of five’ policy for the students taking
admission in FYJC on February 25 as a stride towards normalization of marks scored by SSC
students and their counterparts from other boards like CBSE and ICSE. The decision was taken
because SSC board felt that ICSE and CBSE marking systems were more liberal and gave
advantage to their students in the Class X exam. In this policy the best five scores out of the six
subjects would be counted in calculating the overall result.

On 7th June, 2010, 21 parents of ICSE students had filed a written petition in the Bombay High
Court against the government declaration to implement the ‘best of five’ policy for SSC student
seeking college admissions. The parents of the students affiliated to CBSE claimed that when the
students affiliated to SSC and CBSE will compete for seats in college with the five best scores,
their kids would have to stand with marks of all seven subjects. So they took up the case with
Bombay High Court saying that the policy was unfair taking into account the students.

On 23rd June, 2010 the best of five policy proposed by the Maharashtra education board was set
aside by the Bombay High court. The high court ruled against the ‘best of five’ policy as the rule
did discriminate against the ICSE board students.

The Maharashtra government appealed in opposition to the decision of the Bombay High court
verdict in the Supreme Court as the SSC certificates were already final considering the ‘best of
five’ policy and the state contemplating the issuance of fresh mark sheets with scores in all six
subjects.

On 13th July, 2010 the Supreme Court directed the Maharashtra Senior Secondary board to
extend the ‘best of five’ policy to ICSE pass outs but clarification about the subject selection
from different group was given.

MY OUTLOOK
After undergoing the complete problem, I am clearly against the ‘Best of Five’ policy to be
introduced by the Maharashtra government.

As stated by the Maharashtra State Government, the following thoughts of the ‘Best of Five’
policy are taken owing to the fact that the students are not proficient of coping up with the study
burden. I personally feel that these students are the future cream of the crop of our country; they
are going to be at different influential positions in the society where they have to compete in a
highly competitive global environment.

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The students should be ready to face any hurdle obstructing their way. If the government
implements this policy with the sole aim of making studies simpler and reducing burden on a
particular set of students, then this will be a predicament rather than an act of kindness to the
students, taking into account the future of the student. Eventually the students will take the sixth
subject (academics) lightly; as a result, unintentionally the students will gamble with their career.

The proposal of the ‘best of five’ policy by the SSC board was issued publicly, I suppose the
parents of the students affiliated to the ICSE board were aware of the situation so they should
have appealed through the high court to discontinue this policy from initiation as it violated the
right of equality which is stated in Article 14 of Indian constitution.

According to the Article 14 of the Indian constitution the state may not deny any person equality
before the law, this article clearly depicts educational equality to all students.

Another sticking point that should be taken into consideration is the biased nature of the
government. This policy is a clear discrimination between the state board students and
CBSE/ICSE students which is totally an unfair proposal by the government.

CONCEQUENCE OF THE ‘BEST OF FIVE’ POLICY

Finally after almost a month-long examination Bombay High Court publicized its judgment
regarding the Maharashtra State Government's 'Best of Five' policy for the SSC board on
Wednesday, June 23. As a result, 12.73 lakh SSC students have found themselves in a state of
confusion regarding junior college admissions. They will have to include all the subjects to
compute the final result in Class X. This decision is likely to lower their result by 2 - 13 %,
which may weaken their credentials for admission into the junior college.

IMPACT ON STUDENTS AFFILIATED TO THE SSC BOARD

Considering the generic situation, the students affiliated to SSC board had a soaring result,
benefitting from the 'Best of Five' policy.

However due to the rejection of this policy the effected students think that the court’s decision
has minimised their chances of getting into a good junior college because of the drop in their
percentage. It was tremendously irresponsible on the part of the government to implement such a
policy without consulting the other boards and concerned authorities.

EFFECT ON STUDENTS AFFILIATED TO THE OTHER BOARDS

A sigh of relief for the students affiliated to ICSE, who were under a direct disadvantage due to
the state government’s ‘best of five’ policy.

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CBSE students were at all times unaffected by this because the curriculum incorporated only five
subjects in class X. Moreover the students of CBSE had an option to study a sixth subject which
was non creditable.

JUNIOR COLLEGE ADMISSION: CONFUSION

As the Supreme Court was investigating the matter and because the admissions cannot be
accomplished until the court gave a judgment, it has caused a huge delay in the FYJC
admissions.

With all these investigations, delays and the consecutive events have left thousands of students
and the various examination boards in a state of confusion.

CONCLUSION

I am clearly against the ‘Best of Five’ policy to be introduced by the Maharashtra government.

As stated by the Maharashtra State Government, the following thoughts of the ‘Best of Five’
policy are taken owing to the fact that the students are not proficient of coping up with the study
burden. I personally feel that these students are the future cream of the crop of our country; they
are going to be at different influential positions in the society where they have to compete in a
highly competitive global environment so the students should be ready to face any hurdle
obstructing their progress.

The most sticking issue is the biased nature of the government; this policy is a clear
discrimination between the state board students and CBSE/ICSE students which is totally an
unfair proposal by the government.

Ultimately all the investigations, delays and the consecutive events have left thousands of
students and the various examination boards in a state of confusion !!

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REFERENCES

 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
 http://www.hindustantimes.com/
 http://www.wikipedia.org/
 http://www.indianofficer.com/forums/content/
 http://www.zeenews.com/
 http://news.webindia123.com
 http://www.dnaindia.com