STATE TIMES NEWS
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education on Sunday declared the results of class 12, the examinations of which were delayed last year due to unrest in the Valley, with 75 per cent of over 53,000 students qualifying the exam.
Of the 53,159 students, 40,119 qualified the examinations with the total pass percentage of 75.46 per cent, an official of the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) said.
Of the 28,800 boys, 21,586 passed the examinations, securing a pass percentage of 74.95 per cent, while of the total 24,359 girls, 18,533 qualified for the next level with a pass percentage of 76.08 per cent, the official said.
He said 13,155 students 6,849 boys and 6,306 girls – secured distinction i.e. above 75 per cent marks.
The annual examinations to Class 10 and 12 were held in November last year after being postponed due to the unrest following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces along with two of his associates, on 7th July.
The unrest, which claimed the lives of 86 persons and left thousands injured, had forced closure of all educational institutes for months. The government had to announce mass promotion of students from classes one to nine and class 11.
The authorities had also announced 50 per cent relaxation in the question papers for students appearing in 10th and 12th classes examinations in the month of November, but such an option would not be available for those who opted to write their exams in March.
Felicitating the students who qualified, Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar has especially lauded the impressive performance of the government schools in the results.
He has also complimented the J and K State Board of School Education (BOSE) for declaring the result within 24 days of culmination of the examinations.
Pertinently, the theory examination of Class 12 in Kashmir division concluded on 3rd December 2016 while the practical examination concluded on 28th December 2016 and the result was declared by the BOSE today.
It is in place to mention here that in Class 10th results for Kashmir division declared last month, the performance of government schools has improved by an impressive 24 per cent going up from the average pass percentage of 50 per cent to 74 per cent against the private schools which have improved their performance by just 12 per cent. The overall percentage gap in the results of the government schools and the private schools for Class 10th has also been reduced from 29 per cent to 18 per cent.
The Minister especially lauded the commendable efforts of the teachers of such government schools that have excelled exceptionally well in these examinations. “It is the outcome of the competence and commitment of our gifted teachers that the students of the government schools are now coming out with impressive scores in examinations,” he said and added that the maiden initiatives like CM’s Super-50 coaching and winter tuitions started by the Education Department are also contributing in qualitative improvement of the educational standards in the State. “Our talented teachers are now going above and beyond the call of their duty to make the movement for change in education sector a reality,” he said.
“It is reassuring to note that despite having lost almost full academic year to the unfortunate and tragic disturbances in Kashmir, our students and teachers have put in their best efforts to make up for the losses,” Akhtar said and added that it was only because of the sincere and untiring efforts of the teachers, the students, the parents, the civil society, BOSE authorities and law and order machinery that the successful conduct of Board examinations was possible amid trying circumstances in Kashmir.
“The overwhelming concern shown by the people, across the board, for the academics, is a source of hope and inspiration for all of us and it will continue to guide and strengthen our resolve to pull the State’s educational sector out of the slumber and connect our emancipated students to the larger world outside,” he said.
