Best-5 policy this year too, says Darda

Updated on: Wednesday, May 25, 2011

The state government is firm on its decision to apply the ‘Best-5’ formula for admission to junior colleges this year. “Students from all boards will be admitted to junior colleges on the ‘Best-5’ policy. All the rules imposed on ICSE students last year regarding groups will remain the same,” state school education minister Rajendra Darda told TOI on Thursday.

“Last year, the admissions were smooth and as per the Supreme Court judgment, the ICSE were asked to consider subjects from group I and II, and the same process will be followed this year as there were absolutely no flaws,” Darda added.

Parents and teachers of ICSE students had, last year, filed a petition against the government in the Bombay high court, which set aside the policy. The state government then moved the Supreme Court. In an interim hearing, the apex court ruled that ICSE students could calculate their Best-5 marks out of six subjects, including those from group I and II. But the interim order excluded the seventh subject which falls in the group III category and includes subjects such as technical drawing and computers. According to the state government, since group III subjects have a greater degree of internal assessment, they cannot be considered under the Best-5 policy. The matter is pending before the apex court.

The ICSE results were declared on Tuesday and there was confusion among parents, students and teachers over calculating the percentage. In fact, Gerry Arathoon, additional secretary and officiating chief executive of the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) that conducts the ICSE examination said they had not received any notification from the state government yet. “We are waiting for another surprise from the Maharashtra government like in case of past three years."

Best-5 policy this year too, says Darda

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