TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The State recorded the highest ever 88.10 pass percentage for HSSC exams even as the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBSHSE) observed the trend is a reflection of the results of last academic year.
Board Chairman J R Rebello at a press conference while declaring 2014-15 HSSC results on Sunday said, “The pass percentage has gone higher because the number of HSSC students appearing for the exam increased. Last year’s trend has repeated, but nonetheless the pass percentage is the highest ever in the State.”
The pass percentage in March 2014 was 85.54 per cent wherein out of 11,720 students who took the exam, 10,025 had cleared. Whereas for March 2015 exam, out of 15,708 students who appeared for the crucial exam across 16 centres, 13,838 passed, and an additional 468 exempted candidates who re-appeared had 162 clearing the exam with pass percentage of 34.84.
Like the trend all these years, girls have yet again outshone boys wherein girls registered a handsome 89.10 per cent as against 83.77 per cent of the boys. “Even though the students’ strength is increasing annually, the students are working hard to excel in the exam. We are seeing students attending classes in uniform during summer vacation,” Rebello commented amidst the presentation. “CBSE students are the best in the country and we may be coming closer to them.”
Rebello applauded the students’ performance also because dependence on sports merit marks (SMM) to pass the exams has reduced this year as well.
“The number of students who availed SMM was 2,918 of whom only 207 passed with the help of sports marks. They constituted 1.32 per cent of the overall pass per cent,” he added. “While four out of 62 exempted students (0.85 per cent) cleared the exam through SMM.”
Among the four streams, Science recorded the highest pass percentage of 90.81, followed by Commerce 89.13 while vocational slipped from first position in the last academic year to third place registering 85.88 per cent. Arts, once again, had the least 84.37 per cent. Continuing last year’s trend, all four streams have crossed the 80 per cent mark.
Moreover, 21 higher secondary schools secured over 95 per cent marks of which nine schools repeated their impressive performance for the second consecutive year. Secretary Bhagirath Shetye said, “All students are talented and we need to support them.”
For those who have failed in one or two subjects, the Board has scheduled supplementary exam on June 15, the results of which will be announced in the first week of July.
The HSSC examination was conducted from March 2 to March 20 at 16 centres throughout the State.
