Students to decide level of learning Marathi,English

In a move that could benefit students of standards XI and XII,the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has decided to introduce two levels in English and Marathi languages from the academic year 2009-10.

In a move that could benefit students of standards XI and XII,the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has decided to introduce two levels in English and Marathi languages from the academic year 2009-10. Those students who wish to opt for higher level English can choose English literature and the others can go for general English. Similarly,students can choose between higher level and lower level Marathi language.

In both standards XI and XII,two languages are compulsory for students of all the streams Science,Commerce and Arts. English medium students who opt for English and Marathi often find the Marathi syllabus difficult and end up scoring less in the subject. Similarly,English is tough for Marathi medium students who opt for English along with Marathi. Now,an English medium student can either opt for English literature and lower level Marathi or take up general English and English literature instead of Marathi. A Marathi medium student may take either higher level Marathi and general English or lower and higher level Marathi and can skip English.

Many English medium students would refrain from taking Marathi because they would find it difficult and would end up scoring less. But with the introduction of higher and lower levels,such students will find it convenient to take up lower level Marathi without the fear of scoring less, said S Salunkhe,chairperson,MSBSHSE,Mumbai division.

The proposal for introduction of these subjects was mooted last September by the board of studies and the approval was given early this year. Even though the board conducts exams in eight languages,the introduction of two levels have been restricted only to English and Marathi as of now.

Salunkhe said that the curriculum and textbooks were already in place and that the subjects would be introduced in the coming academic year. The decision has evoked mixed response from the citys college principals. Not many have received circulars about the same. Uday Mashelkar,principal,Patkar College,Goregaon said,A lot of Maharashtrian English medium students take up Marathi in standard XI but find it difficult to cope with it in the XII. When they score less in languages,their over all percentage too goes down. If the choice of lower level is given,the students will find it easier.

MB Kekare,principal,Kirti college,Dadar said,I believe that introducing two levels in languages will not be of much help. As it is students have a tendency to ignore languages at HSC level because most entrance exams do not consider HSC marks. Principal of Vile Parle based Mithibai College Kiran Mangaonkar and Swami Vivekanad Junior college (Chembur) Principal Bina Gole said that they,too,hadnt heard of the boards decision to introduce the new levels.

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