Ahmedabad: Gujarat has received a response from more than 34,000 students for the state board’s first-ever open schooling exams for Classes X and XII. The exams, organised by Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB), will be conducted from Nov 30 to Dec 9.According to figures released by the education department, a total of 33,154 students have registered for the exams. Of these, 28,080 students have applied for the Class X exam, while 5,074 candidates have registered for Class XII. The initial registration process has now been completed.Open schooling exams provide an opportunity for students who have dropped out of school or could not appear for regular board exams to complete their education. At the national level, National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) conducts similar exams every year.This year, the Gujarat education department has focused on reducing the state’s school dropout rate and bringing children who have discontinued their education back into the mainstream. Special campaigns, including enrolment drives, were conducted to encourage such students to resume their studies.The state board had initially estimated that around 50,000 students would register for the first open schooling examinations in Gujarat. However, the number of applications has fallen approximately 34% short of the target.Despite the shortfall, the registration of more than 33,000 students in the first attempt is being viewed as a positive development by the education department. The initiative is expected to provide an alternative route for students who have been unable to complete their schooling through the regular system.
