B'lore topped SSLC in quality, but tumbled in numbers game

The recent SSLC results saw Bangalore North and Bangalore South education districts topping the State in terms of the quality of education. 

However, Bangalore South ranked the lowest #in the State in at least six years, as far as the overall pass percentage is concerned. Bangalore North’s pass percentage has fluctuated a great deal and saw a gradual dip. 

Bangalore South has, in fact, always been among the districts recording the lowest overall pass percentage in the past few years. 

In 2014, it has ranked 31, its lowest in at least six years. Between 2008 and 2010, this figure fluctuated from 22 in 2008, 18 in 2009 (its best in at least six years) and again 22 in 2010. In the year 2011, this rank took a steep dip to 30 and thereafter went to 24 in 2012 and 30 in 2013.       

Bangalore North, on the other hand, saw a slow dip in its overall pass percentage, ranking from 13 to 14 between 2008 and 2009. In 2010, however, this rank climbed to 11 (its best in at least six years). 

However, this did not last long and went down to 15 in 2011. In 2012, this slipped all the way down to 27; 22 in 2013 and 24 in 2014.  Conversely, in terms of quality of education, the two districts showed phenomenal performance in 2014. While Bangalore North was ranked first, Bangalore South was ranked second in the criteria. 

Of the 46,266 regular fresh students who appeared for the SSLC exam from Bangalore North, 17,478 passed with first class, 4,516 passed with distinction, 7,952 with second class and 11,160 secured pass class. For Bangalore South, the statistics were no different. 

Of the 57,666 students who took the exam, 19,115 secured first class, 4,475 passed with distinction, 9,468 secured second class and 15,700 got pass class. K Padmavati, Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI), Bangalore South, attributed the low ranking in the overall pass percentage to a number of factors.

“The rank has been constant and almost the same, with the pass percentage at around 76 for the past three years. The overall increase in pass percentage of the entire State has led to the education district’s low rank this year. Also, the students’ strength in the district is among the highest in the State and it would be unfair to compare it with other districts that have recorded good pass percentages, but with less student strength,” she said.

Manjunath H B, DDPI, Bangalore North, was also of the opinion that the presence of as many as 4,000 private candidates, a good number of repeaters and a number of BBMP schools whose students usually perform poorly has led to the low rankings. 

“Of the 17 schools with zero per cent pass percentage, two are from this district. I will call a meeting of headmasters to prepare an action plan on how the trend can be curbed,” said Manjunath.