The state government has announced the introduction of its new Allowed To Keep Terms (ATKT) scheme for SSC and HSC students that will allow them to get admission in junior college if they have failed in a maximum of two subjects. The scheme will be implemented from this academic year.

Mumbai Mirror had first reported on the education department’s plan to introduce this scheme for its students.

According to the scheme that was announced on Friday by the state education department, the ATKT option that was earlier available only to degree students will be allowed to SSC and HSC students.

The students will be allowed to appear for exams in the next year for subjects in which they have failed while still holding on to their college seat.

The state school education board, which met earlier this week discussed two proposals - ATKT for SSC and HSC students or an immediate supplementary examination and results within one month to ensure that students, who failed in one or two subjects, did not lose a year.

“It was felt that offering ATKT would be easier than holding supplementary exams. SSC students, who are offered ATKT, will be allowed to seek admission to junior college, but they must clear their subjects in the October 2009 or March 2010 exams.

Similarly, HSC students, too must clear their exams before the final exams of their first year degree courses,” said state education minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil.

There are nearly two lakh students across the state who failed in a maximum of two subjects in SSC and who will benefit from this proposal.

Similarly, there are about 1,50,,000 HSC students in the city who have failed in two subjects. The students will be accommodated in the third round of admissions and the admission schedule will be declared in a week.