The state education minister Varsha Gaikwad recently announced that Maharashtra schools will reopen for classes 9 to 12 from November 23, 2020.

She also stated that the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, MSBSHSE, which usually conducts the 10th (SSC) and 12th (HSC) examinations in the months of February and March, will not be held before May, 2021.

Gaikwad also pointed out that since no physical classes have been held this year, the state government would want to conduct classes first. Hence, there is no alternative but to postpone the Maharashtra SSC, HSC board examinations.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra state education department has cut short this year’s Diwali break to just five days instead of the usual 21-day break. According to a government resolution (dated November 5), this year schools have been granted Diwali break of five days from 12-16 November.

येत्या दिवाळी सणानिमित्त शालेय शिक्षण विभागाच्या वतीनं महाराष्ट्रातील शाळांना ७ नोव्हेंबर ते २० नोव्हेंबरपर्यंत सुट्टी जाहीर करण्यात येत आहे. मात्र, इ. १० वी आणि इ. १२ वी च्या पुरवणी परीक्षेच्या कामासाठी निवड झालेल्या शिक्षकांना १९ नोव्हेंबरपासून कर्तव्यावर रुजू व्हायचं आहे. pic.twitter.com/ZiPWdG7Txs

— Varsha Gaikwad (@VarshaEGaikwad) November 6, 2020

It has also asked the teachers who have been assigned duties in the 10th, 12th supplementary exam to resume their duties from November 19 onwards. The syllabus for SSC and HSC examinations has been reduced by 25 percent to compensate for the time lost. 

Guidelines and SOPs and official notice regarding reopening of schools in Maharashtra from November 23 are expected to be released soon. 

Read: Maharashtra teachers unhappy about five-day Diwali break

Also read: Maharashtra: Students part of online learning to get Diwali vacation

Also read: School reopening guidelines: Education ministry issues SOPs