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EM Bureau
Kohima/Dimapur, May 31 (EMN): Girls once again outperformed boys in both the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) and Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (HSSLC) examinations 2022, the results if which were declared by the Nagaland Board of School Education on Tuesday.
Compared to the last five years’ pass percentage of HSLC, the overall performance dipped to 64.69%, the lowest in six years, according to the board.
The overall pass percentage recorded in 2017 was 70.19%, 66.01% in 2018, 68.29% in 2019, 70.03% in 2020, and 69.42% in 2021.
After the results were declared, NBSE chairperson Asano Sekhose told journalists at her office chamber that the overall performance in the HSLC this year was “slightly down” by almost 5% (precisely 4.73%) compared to 2021.
She said the COVID-19 pandemic was one of the major reasons that affected students’ performance. “These batches of students were being affected by the COVID pandemic, and so they did not get the opportunity to have regular physical classes in 2020 and 2021. That reason could be one major reason that could have affected their performances. There may be other reasons but a pandemic is the possible major factor,” she said.
Shifting of classroom learning to online mode during the lockdown resulted in “digital divide”.
“Students in far-flung places were unable to access digital learning despite assistance and efforts from the department and various other stakeholders to reach out to them. When they could not get the opportunity to come to classroom learning, the difficulties arose for them to manage everything by themselves,” she said.
However, there was an overall improvement in Arts and Science streams this year with an 11.34% increase in Arts and 7.89% in Commerce compared to 2021, which is an all-time high in six years.
As for the Science stream, the pass percentage in 2021 was one of the best in so many years. But this year it’s a difference of 3% which is “not too bad”, she said.
In the HSLC exam 2022, out of 28,938 students who enrolled, 18721 candidates qualified. Of the total qualified candidates, 10021 were girls and 8700 were boys.
In the top 20, there were 62 candidates, out of which 18 are boys and the rest 44 are girls, Sekhose informed.
A total of 90 schools secured 100% pass percentage, out of which 78 are private schools and 12 government schools. This year, 34 schools recorded nil results, out of which 33 are government schools and one is a private school.
Government schools recorded a pass percentage of 36.62%, while private schools recorded 82.08%.
In terms of district-wise performance for government schools, Kohima district topped the table with a percentage of 57%, followed by Mokokchung at 54% and Peren at 52%, while Kiphire district is at the bottom at 7%.
In respect of private schools too, Kohima district topped with a pass percentage of 88%, followed by Zunheboto at 84%.
The number of candidates who secured 80% and above in aggregate were 1527, out of which 20 candidates were from government schools.
In HSLC compartmental examination, 901 out of the 1392 candidates enrolled qualified the exam with a pass percentage of 64.73%.
In HSSLC examination, 17,121 candidates were enrolled and the overall pass percentage in Arts stream is 80.64%, Commerce stream 82.28% and Science stream 88.24%. As many as 16 institutions under Arts stream, 10 institutions under Science stream and four under Commerce stream secured 100% pass result.
Once again, girls outperformed boys in all the streams with girls recording a pass percentage of 85.66% in Arts against 70.80% for boys; girls recorded 88.03% pass percentage and boys 78.71% in Commerce; and 93.07% of girls passed in Science compared to 82.92% among boys.
The number of boys and girls in the top 10 list stream-wise include: Arts- 15 girls and three boys; Commerce- five girls and eight boys; Science- nine girls and seven boys.
The NBSE also said that two students from government schools mad it to the top 10 list, with a student from Government Higher Secondary School, Jotsoma securing rank 4 and a student from Government Higher Secondary School, Chumoukedima securing rank 8 in the HSSLC exams.
Delphi Oinam, from Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Dimapur, secured top 1 rank in the HSLC 2022 with a score of 99.17%.
An elated Oinam told journalists on Tuesday that she was not expecting the first rank, and was “surprised at first.” She shared she had initially checked her marksheet and was “quite satisfied” with her performance, unaware that she had secured the top rank. It was only later that her mother called informing her about her topping the HSLC examination.
Oinam revealed that she did not follow any specific study routine but would study consistently.
Oinam secured the highest marks in Math (100), Alternative English (99), and Foundation of Information Technology (100).
She thanked God and gave credit to her parents for always supporting, guiding and encouraging her.
Sharing about her future plans, she said that she aspires to be a doctor and will continue her further studies from Dimapur. She also shared that her parents being teachers helped her because whenever she had doubts, her parents would help her.
Her father is an assistant professor at ICFAI University and her mother is a teacher at MGM Higher Secondary School. Oinam is the middle child, with an elder sister and a younger brother.
Speaking about her experience with online mode of education, she said: “Online was hard for me and I felt demotivated at times but I would always encourage myself, and so I would self-study after online classes.” She opined that she preferred offline classes because she got guidance from her teachers in school.
Besides studying, her hobbies include painting and even got first place in the state-level painting competition on Energy Conservation in 2021.
Advice to juniors: “Trust in yourself, be confident, study consistently, and have faith in God because He is always faithful.”
The HSSLC Arts stream topper Limasungla Longkumer from Christian Hr. Sec. School, Dimapur scored 97.60% with a total of 488 marks, and the highest marks in the state in three subjects -- Education (99), English (97), and Political Science (99).
Daughter of S Amongba and Senlimongla Longkumer from Tuli in Mokokchung district, Limasungla wants to pursue Bachelor of Theology. Unlike those that excel in exams and aspire to follow civil services, Longkumer while speaking to Eastern Mirror over a telephonic communiqué from her home in Tuli, shared that it had always been her commitment to study Theology and she cannot imagine doing any other job than following her aspiration. She shared she wants to work among the youths so that she can bring at least some changes through the profession that she chooses.
“It came as a shock to me to top the HSSLC Arts stream although I expected to be among the toppers. But my teachers have been supportive and had hope in me that I would excel. I am proud and happy that I could live up to their expectations; they are the main pillar of my success”, she conveyed.
It was routine for her to spend at least four to six hours a day studying while staying at her aunt’s hostel. She maintained this consistency throughout her academic year and spent some extra time during exams, while not over-stressing herself.
Longkumer’s father expressed joy over his daughter’s effort and achievement. He said that since her childhood, she was disciplined in her studies and this achievement was expected of her, although not the top 1 position.
On her r decision to pursue Theology, he said the family is supportive of her career path as she had conveyed her choice since early days.
Ngamjong Jn Yanlem scored 95.20% to be the HSSLC topper in Science stream. He shared that he could not contain his happiness after getting to know of his achievement through friends.
A student of St. John Hr. Sec. Residential School, Dimapur, Yanlem scored a total of 476 marks while securing the highest marks in Biology (98) and Computer Science (96) in the state.
For Yanlem, topping the HSSLC exam was a surprise for him as he did not expect to be even among the toppers list. He had told his parents -- T Jeange and A Nyuiya Yanlem-- not to expect him to be among the toppers as he was also ranked top 8 in his HSLC exam.
Speaking to reporters at his home in Aoyimti, he said because of the stiff competition among his classmates and the students in general, he did not expect this achievement.
Yanlem, who aspires to be a doctor, said his focus now will be on achieving his goal to be a neurosurgeon or a psychiatrist. His elder sister, who is also studying to be a doctor, inspired him in a way to take up this profession, Yanlem said.
For a brief period, he shared he had to struggle because of the online mode of teaching as the schedule was hectic, which pulled down his morale and made him lazy.
‘However, after the classes resumed I was back on track’, said Yanlem.
On his study schedule, he said that it was ‘spontaneous’ and since he was residing in the hostel, he followed the hostel study schedule but spent some extra hours during exams while taking care of his mental and physical health.
Having ranked top 8 in his Class 10 exams did not put any pressure on him, he said but his family and friends believed he would do well.
“I have had a merciful journey till date with the support, trust and hope from my family, friends, teachers and the people that I have come across”, he conveyed. In his free time, he loves to read books, write and listen to music.
Acknowledging the people who have been instrumental in his journey, he conveyed “your success is not only yours but it is also for the people who have hope in you and have supported you along”.
Principal of St. John Hr. Sec. Residential School Dr. Walunir Tzudir sharing his joy over Yanlem’s achievement, expressed that he had ‘no doubt’ and was certain that Yanlem would top the state Science stream as he had maintained consistency in excelling, and would always find him reading books.
Subhansu Jaiswal from Holy Cross Higher Secondary School, Dimapur, secured top 1 in the HSSLC Commerce stream with 98.60%. Jaiswal had secured the top 7 rank in HSLC 2020, and since then, he has aspired to secure the top 1 rank.
“I was determined in my process and from the beginning I was consistent in my studies,” he said.
He got the highest marks in Accountancy (99) and Economics (99).
He also did not follow any specific study routine but he would study “three-four hours consistently.”
Speaking about his plans, he said that he is preparing for the Central University Entrance Test (CUET), and is targeting to pursue his undergraduate studies at Delhi University. He wants to study BCom (Honours) and opt for Chartered Accountant (CA), followed by MBA.
His father is a businessman and he is the youngest among three siblings. He informed that one of his brothers is in NIT and the other is doing CA.
Jaiswal shared that the offline mode was ‘fun’ for him because he could learn from the recorded classes anytime. He shared that his interest lies in coding, retail marketing, and stock marketing among others. He said that his study materials were from the school and sometimes from YouTube.
‘The support I got from my teachers and parents is immense and it would have been impossible without them’, he added.
Advice to juniors: “Have clear concept, be consistent and focus on the process rather than thinking about the results”.