Over 150 schools on the defaulters list are from the Mumbai division
The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary
Education (MSBSHSE) have decided to send a show cause notice to around 2,450 schools
across the state for not having their own science laboratories. If these schools
fail to set up a laboratory, the board will not consider their students' practical
marks. Over 150 schools on the defaulters list are from the Mumbai division.
A survey conducted by the board in eight regions of the state revealed that many
schools don't have their own laboratories. According to education experts, the situation
is alarming as these schools have not held practical exams and yet sent the practical
marks to the board. "Schools randomly send practical marks to the board without
holding practicals. We will send show cause notices to such schools so that they
stop committing such acts. If they don't comply, we will not consider the practical
marks of their students for the SSC exam," said Ujwala Patil, chairperson of MSBSHSE.
This also means that a large number of students are not being exposed to experiments
which are a crucial part of learning science. "Science without a lab is useless.
Observation and experimentation is a major part of science," said Ophelia Barreto,
head mistress, Podar International School, SSC section.
"Schools cannot teach science without laboratories since it is an application based
subject. Labs are needed so that the students get hands-on experience and develop
a scientific temper," said Abha Dharam Pal, principal, Utpal Sanghvi School, Juhu.
Courtesy: DNA India
