The Hindu : Kerala News : Results create record of sorts

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 18, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Results create record of sorts

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANATHAPURAM, MAY 17. The results of the SSLC examination conducted by the Department of General Education of the Government of Kerala, announced here today, have created a record of sorts.

It is for the last time in the history of SSLC examinations that the results have been based on the marks and ranks secured by the candidates. From the next academic year onwards, the Mark and Rank System is to be abolished and will be replaced by a new System of Grading of students on the basis of their overall performance.

An all-time high pass per cent of 70.06 has been registered this year. Announcing the results at a press conference here today, Nalakath Soopy, the Minister for Education, said that of the 4,69,704 school-going students who had appeared for the examination, 3,25,200 have been declared to have passed this time. As many as 30,388 of them have secured Distinction, 83,750, First Class and 69,100, Second Class. Last year, these figures were 26,499, 74,220 and 58,624, respectively.

In terms of the number of candidates too it was a record high this year. Apart from the school going students, 1,30,242 candidates had appeared under Private Full Course category and 12,510 under the Group Compartmental category, taking the total number of candidates to 6,12,456.

Compared to the previous year, there was an increase of 9,238 candidates in the school going category, 24,669 in the private full course section and 1,406 in the group compartmental category. The overall pass percentage, taking into consideration the three different categories of candidates, is 65.25, which is also the highest so far in the State.

There are 185 schools in the State which have produced a 100 per cent pass, after having presented more than 50 students at the examination. The number of schools achieving such a result, with less than 50 students appearing for the examination, is 62. As many as 26 Government schools have registered a 100 per cent pass. The number of aided schools that have won this distinction is 73 and that of the unaided schools, 148.

At the lower end of the table, there are five schools registering less than 10 per cent pass this time and all of them are Government schools. The dubious distinction of having registered zero per cent pass goes to the Government City VHS, Thiruvananthapuram, where 23 candidates appeared for the examination, but none passed, even after the award of moderation marks to the extent of 22 to those who did not have the `group minimum' and 17 marks to those who did not have the `subject minimum'.

The moderation paved the way for 4,031 candidates, who had otherwise ended up with a dismal performance, clearing the examination. Grace marks have been provided to those who had excelled in the youth festivals, science fairs, sports meets and scouts, guides and NCC activities.

The certificates of candidates will reach the respective district education offices before May 28, to be distributed to them from the school concerned.

The Save A Year (SAY) examination, for the benefit of students who had failed in just one subject in the SSLC examination, will be held on June 10. Last year 7,651 students had benefited from the SAY examination, by joining the Higher Secondary course without having to lose an academic year.

Applications for scrutiny of marks and revaluation of answer papers will be accepted till June 7.

The examinations were held at 2,646 centres all over the State, besides in Mahe, Lakshadweep and several centres in West Asia, from March 10 to March 25, 2004. The evaluation of answer papers was conducted at 49 centralised valuation camps from April 2 to April 24.

The Minister disclosed that the Quality Improvement Programme initiated in the schools had begun to show positive results, especially in a district like Malappuram which has remained educationally backward.

From the next academic year onwards, one Government school each, in the high school, higher secondary and vocational higher secondary category in every district, will be identified to be developed as a `model institution', Mr. Soopy said.

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