Goa Board Alters 'ATKT' and Adopts 'CBSE' Scheme For SSC Students

The Former Education Minister Atanasio Babush has decided that students failing in up to two subjects in Class 10 board exams will be allowed to keep term (ATKT) and seek admissions to Higher Secondary schools.

Students were happy for this scheme. But, the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary (GSHSEB) has found that the same decision which was trending in Maharashtra had resulted in more harm than good for students who have failed in the Class 10 Board Examination.

The Goa Board has revealed that the officials are planning to alter the ATKT scheme for Goa students and adopting the Central Board of secondary Education (CBSE) Scheme, as they have found that more than 50-60% of students with ATKT in two subjects have failed to clear their backlog. This forces the students quit school after Class XI until they clear the backlogs.

An senior official said that "Until 2009-10, students failing in only one subject were allowed to seek admissions in junior colleges and they were given an opportunity to clear their backlog in the October exam held the same year. If the student fails to clear the failed subject, the pupil's Class XI results are held back by the higher secondary schools."

"Of the students who have failed in one subject, up to 20% are unable to clear their Class X backlog. In case of those with ATKT with two subjects, most are unable to clear the failed subjects in time for release of their Class XI results," he added.

Goa board chairperson Jose Remedios Rebello said "The newly-elected board will consider a proposal for implementation of the compartment system of the CBSE, where the student can get admissions to Class XI only after clearing the Class X backlog. It is easier to clear the backlog without taking up the studies of a higher class to add to the burden. More students are likely to clear a class under the compartment system."