Ahmedabad: The Gujarat government on Friday announced that Class 10 students who have passed with grace marks can seek admission for diploma courses at polytechnic institutes.          Notably, a rule framed by the state Education  Department in 2016 had barred students passed with  grace marks from seeking admission to polytechnic  diploma courses in the state.         Speaking to reporters in Gandhinagar, state  Education Minister Jitubhai Vaghani said the state  government has decided to do away with the rule  from this year onwards to help such students pursue  diploma courses.        "Around 30,000 seats in various polytechnics  are currently vacant, and an equal number of SSC  students have passed with grace marks this year. To  ensure that these students also get an opportunity to  build their career, we have decided to allow them  seek admission to diploma courses," Vaghani said.        The Class 10 board exams in Gujarat were  cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic  and students were given mass promotion.         "We have also extended the date for accepting  admission forms. Students with grace marks were  considered ineligible for diploma courses since 2016.  Now, they will be considered eligible. I urge such  students to take advantage of this announcement and  fill the admission forms in time," the minister said.        When asked about the reopening of primary schools for students from Classes 1 to 5, Vaghani said  the final decision will be taken "very soon" after  consulting experts.