The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary Education, Pune came into existence on 1st January, 1966, as per the Maharashtra Act No.XLI of 1965 (called as Maharashtra Secondary Boards Act 1965) to regulate certain matters pertaining to secondary education in the State of Maharashtra. The Act was amended in 1977 and the nomenclature of the Board has been changed to "The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education."
As a State level organisation, the Board substantially contributes towards upgrading educational standards and introducing innovations in the field of secondary and higher secondary education. The Board is diverse, mass participative education system with a broader base of access that provides the benefits of uniformity and diversity. Over a period of 3 decades, the Board has grown tremendously in terms of schools and number of students.
Board Pattern
The Board conducts the below mentioned Examinations at the end of Class X and XII twice a year in March and October.
- S.S.C. - Senior Secondary Certificate
- H.S.C. - Higher Secondary Certificate
The core curriculum at the Secondary State comprises of the study of 3 languages (viz.Mother tongue, National language and English) and Mathematics, Science and Social Sciences as the subjects of external assessment. Physical and Health Education, Work Experience, one of the Optional Subjects, Value Education and General Knowledge are the five subjects that are studied and continuously assessed internally by the schools.
Board Divisions
The jurisdiction of the board extends to the whole state of Maharashtra comprising of 33 districts. The Board has decentralised its activities in favour of increased responsibilities to the students, teachers and the schools. It has eight divisional boards at Pune, Mumbai, Kolhapur, Nasik, Amaravati, Nagpur, Aurangabad and Latur. All these divisional boards enjoy autonomy in the conduct of examinations.
Functions / Objectives / Mission Of The Board
The Board advises the State Government on matters of policy relating to secondary and higher secondary education in general and on the following matters in particular :-
18(a)
1. Ensuring a uniform pattern of Secondary or Higher Secondary Education.
2. Maintenance of uniform standard of education in Secondary Schools and Junior Colleges.
3. Co-ordination between National policies and State policies in Secondary or Higher Secondary Education.
4. Co-ordination between Secondary or Higher Secondary education, university education and primary education.
18(b) To lay down guiding principles for determining Curricula and Syllabi and also to prepare the detailed syllabi for all standards of secondary and higher secondary education.
18(d) To prescribe standard requirements in respect of staff, buildings, furniture, equipment, stationary and other things required for secondary schools and junior colleges.
18(e) To prescribe any books as text-books or to prepare or cause to be prepared any books and prescribe them as text-books, for all standards including the final standard of Secondary and higher secondary education.
18(f) To prescribe the general conditions governing admission of regular and private candidates to the final examinations, and to specify the conditions regarding attendance and character, on the fulfillment of which a candidate shall have a right to be admitted to and to appear at any such examination.
18(g) To award certificates to candidates passing the final examination
18(h) To institute and award scholarships, stipends, medals prizes and other rewards, and to prescribe conditions therefor.
18(l) To call for special reports and information from the Director of Education and other officers of the Education Department and any information from any Secondary School or Jr. College to ensure maintenance of academic standards in secondary and higher secondary education;
18(n) To appoint officers and servants of the state Board (other than the Chairman, Secretary, Joint Secretary or Asstt. Secretary) in its office and in the offices of the Divisional Boards and regulate the terms and conditions of their service.
18(q) To inspect and supervise generally the working of the Divisional Boards and to inspect periodically the accounts thereof.
Board Organisation
The highest executive of the Board is the State Chairman, who is assisted by a Secretary and Assistant Secretary at Head Quarter and by Divisional Chairman and Divisional Secretary at the Divisional Boards. All these officers belong to the State education cadre. The Board has various statutory committees which are advisory in nature. The Governing Body of the Board is constituted as per its rules and regulations. The recommendations of all the committees are placed for approval before the Governing Body on the Board.
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