1st HS sem-batch results out, only 1.1% score above 90%

Kolkata: The Higher Secondary results declared on Thursday recorded a slightly higher pass percentage than that last year but only 1.1% students scored 90% and above, recording a significant decline in the high-scorer figure. This was the first batch of the state board class 12 under the semester system. The HS marks were calculated by adding the scores in the third- and fourth-semester exams. Given the high scores secured by ISC students, they may get an edge over their HS and CBSE counterparts during college admissions. Compared to the 1.1% HS students scoring above 90%, 25% ISC students scored such marks. In the state board class 12 exams, 64 students made it to the top-10 list, the topper being Ramakrishna Mission, Narendrapur student Adrito Pal, who scored 496 out of 500 (99.2%). Three students occupied the second position and five the third. Among the top 10 rank-holders, 18 students were from Ramakrishna Mission, Narendrapur and 17 from Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith. On the merit list are four students from Kolkata schools—Gholam Faisal from Calcutta Madrasah AP Deptt (98.6%, fourth), Amritangsu Sahu from Scottish Church Collegiate School (97.6%, ninth), Adrija Gan from Ramakrishna Sarada Mission Sister Nivedita Girls' School (97.4%, 10th) and Samriddha Paul from Baranagar Ramakrishna Mission Ashram High School (97.4%, 10th).Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari congratulated topper Adrito's parents over phone for their son's achievement. "You have done exceptionally well. You have scored the highest marks in the state and we are all proud of you. I wish you even greater success in the future," Adhikari told Adrito. His father urged the new CM to ensure the upliftment of the education system. The chief minister will felicitate all boards toppers on May 18 at the secretariat. "I expected good results but I never imagined I would top the state. Missing a rank in Madhyamik by a small margin did hurt but that disappointment is now gone," Adrito told TOI. About the CM's phone call, he said, "I conveyed my respects to the CM and received his blessings. I am extremely happy he personally called to congratulate me."Among the 6.3 lakh students who appeared for HS, 5.7 lakh passed, bringing the pass percentage to 91.2, a 0.4% improvement on last year's 90.8%. But only 6,434 students or 1.1% scored 90% and above, a nearly 12% dip from last year. About fewer students scoring above 90%, HS Council president Partha Karmakar said, "This is the first semester system batch. We have to analyse the data. We have several plans for the overall betterment of the system." School heads, too, pointed out some "problems" under the new semester system, including inadequate books for individual subjects. In the third-semester exams, science students faced time management problems and the gap between the third and fourth semesters was too short for proper preparations, said a teacher. Scottish Church Collegiate School headmaster Bibhas Sanyal said, "This was our first co-ed batch. They did well. But given it's the first semester batch, students had trouble adapting to the new system. Subsequent batches will overcome the challenges."The HS Council has also started an improvement test, but that will be the fourth-semester exam next year. Many pointed out that while other boards' students could appear for improvement tests within a month or two, HS students would have to wait for a year. Karmakar said the Council planned to revise the system after a meet with the education department.RKM Vidyalaya, Narendrapur, and Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Purulia, together had 35 students on the merit list. Swami Ishteshananda, RKM Narendrapur headmaster, pointed out their culture of simple living and lofty ideals built discipline and teamwork. Ritobrata Nath, who ranked second, said the phone-free space helped them study with fewer distractions. Aitihya Pachhal, who also came second, said their housemasters supervised their study.Swami Jnanarupananda, headmaster of RKM Vidyapith, attributed frequent mock tests to the great scores. Jishnu Kundu from the school, attributed his second rank to the disciplined environment and teacher guidance. Third-rank holder Pritam Ballav said the school helped shape him personally.