Why pass percentages went north?

ANALYSIS OF the pass percentages of the last seven years (see box, right top) at High School and Intermediate examinations conduced by the UP Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad says it all. Ever since the self-centre examination system was introduced by the Mulayam Singh Yadav Government, the pass percentages have sky-rocketed.

ANALYSIS OF the pass percentages of the last seven years (see box, right top) at High School and Intermediate examinations conduced by the UP Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad says it all. Ever since the self-centre examination system was introduced by the Mulayam Singh Yadav Government, the pass percentages have sky-rocketed.

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For instance, the pass percentage in the HS and Inter examinations in 2003 was 40.91 and 70.51 but in the very next year (when the self-centre examination pattern came into being) this figure jumped to 70.61 and 89.50 per cent respectively. Since then, the pass percentage has not come down. In fact, the pass percentages in the Inter examinations have moved up to 89 per cent even though, the HS pass percentages have hovered around 70 per cent.

ducationists say the unique trend in pass percentages going north is because of the self-centre examination system what with several students of a single school making it to the merit list each year. This was possible only because of the education mafia. If one year it was the students of a Kanpur-based school who earned the maximum number of positions in the merit list then, the next year it was a Lucknow boys’ school.

Now, the pass percentages are likely to drop. Government school principals believe that the copying mafia would leave no stone unturned to have the High Court ruling reversed. They fear that private schools would find a way out to manipulate things.

A government school principal explains: “There are several schools with a number of branches. The managements of these schools would enter into an understanding with other school managements and manipulate things in such a way so that students of their respective schools would go to each other for exams! Some of these principals have already initiated the exercise to choke the spirit of HC order.”

In the other hand, the Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad and the State Government has made up their mind to file a SLP seeking intervention of sorts as less than three months are left for the Board examinations to commence. Says Sanjay Mohan, Director, Secondary Education: “We would move a SLP in the court on Monday as there is no time left to effect changes in the existing set-up.”

Basudev Yadav, secretary of UP Board High School and Inter education said: “We’ve discussed the issue with the Advocate General as there is very little time left. If the Court does not agree to our request, we would urge the court to postpone the examination by two months as lot of work needs to be done in denoting examination centres. Physically challenged students would also be affected as they would now have to travel a long distance to reach their centres.”

Meanwhile, the Madhyamik Shikshak Sangh has welcomed the HC decision. The Sangh says the order would give meritorious students a shot in their arm. The self-centre examination system had largely diluted the hard work of meritorious students. In the self-centre examination system, it was the mediocre or average students who reaped the benefits.

Reacting to the HC decision, JP Mishra, principal of Aminabad Inter College said, in the context of the urban areas, the decision would be hailed. “Let’s see the implication in rural areas where there are few schools. In rural areas, a student may have to go to a different centre 20 miles away from home,” he said.
Nonetheless, the HC order has been largely appreciated. Academicians say the HC verdict was “too good” both in letter and spirit. Toppers too welcome the verdict.

Board officials have an answer ready too! Basudev Yadav said, “Look at the ICSE and CBSE pattern. They have the self centre examination centre and produce very good pass percentages. Nobody raises a finger at them. Then, why is it that our integrity is being questioned when we have 90 per cent of the invigilators from outside?”