Maharashtra SSC results 2025: Career expert Vivek Velankar urges clarity over panic in career planning

Career guidance expert Vivek Velankar

Career guide Vivek Velankar is a name synonymous with grassroots educational reform, insightful career guidance, and RTI activism in Maharashtra. With over 15 years of experience in the tech and industrial sectors in India and the US. In this in-depth interview with mid-day, Velankar speaks on the confusion students face post-10th and 12th.

Students often respond vaguely to "What next after 10th or 12th?" Why does this happen, and how can it be addressed?
Velankar: The most common answer I hear is, "Let's see after the results." That's the core issue. Students and parents wait for marks before choosing a career path, putting the cart before the horse. Career decisions should come first; marks can then guide where within that field to apply.

How should students assess their interests?
Velankar: It's simple. Take all your school subjects and place them in three columns:
1. Subjects you enjoy
2. Subjects you dislike
3. Subjects you are indifferent to
This is about feelings, not marks. For instance, if you enjoy drawing, perhaps architecture or design suits you better than engineering. Stream choice shouldn't depend on marks, peer pressure, or what others are doing - it should reflect personal interest.

What about students scoring 35-60 per cent? Many feel like failures in today's high-score culture.
Velankar: That's a major concern. In cities, 90 per cent+ marks are now common. So a student scoring 40 per cent feels inadequate, which is wrong. These marks only matter for Std XI admissions. Beyond that, they have no impact on future success. Whether you score 95 per cent or 35 per cent, it's your skills and career path that matter.

What are the options for students who don't want to pursue traditional 11th and 12th after 10th?
Velankar: Several good options exist:
. Diplomas in engineering, agriculture, or fine arts
. MCVC courses (Minimum Competency Vocational Courses)
. ITI (Industrial Training Institutes) courses with internships
ITI isn't just for low-income jobs anymore - there are opportunities in both the government and private sectors. Even students who fail Std X have alternative pathways. The focus should shift from marks to skills.

What role should parents play in career decisions?
Velankar: Parents must support, not impose. Many force choices based on outdated beliefs or social pressure. They've known their child for 15-16 years - they should observe, listen, and help guide based on the child's tendencies and aptitude. Forcing a child into a "prestigious" stream only leads to frustration.

How should families deal with board exam stress and result anxiety?
Velankar: Unfortunately, homes become pressure cookers during board years. Everyone says, "This is your life-changing year." Relatives pile on expectations. But board exams are just checkpoints. No one can predict where a child will end up.

Why is there so much stress around exam results?
Velankar: Because the pressure starts at home. Parents say, "This is your board year, we've given you everything, now just score well." Add peer and societal pressure, and it becomes suffocating. Students shouldn't compare with others - no one truly knows what the future holds. Parents need to accept their child's reality.