Mumbai, (The Hindu): 90.41% of Mumbai region students who took the Secondary School Certificate exams passed, the fourth-highest percentage in Maharashtra, after the Konkan, Kolhapur and Pune divisions.

The SSC results, declared on Friday, revealed that the overall performance improved, with 0.67% more students passing as compared to 2017. Out of a total of 16,36,250 students who appeared for the exams in Maharashtra, 14,56,203 students passed (5,38,890 secured first class, and 4,14,914 second class).

Of the 4,028 schools in the state with 100% of their students passing, 13 were schools under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). BMC officials said 8,934 students (out of 12,104 who appeared for the exam, a 73.81% success rate) passed, and 42 scored more than 90%.

Shrutika Mahajan, from Chandrakant Patkar School, Dombivli, topped the Mumbai region, with 100%, plus 15 marks for proficiency in classical dance. “A study time-table of three to four hours every day, and also nurturing my hobbies, dance and drawing, helped me achieve the score,” she said.

Sanika Gaikwad, from Vidya Niketan School, Dombivli, ranked second, with 99.80%. “I am grateful to my parents and teachers for giving me the support I needed, which allowed me to consistently score above 95% in my school examinations and finally this top score in the boards,” she said. A Kathak dancer, she got an additional 15 marks for cultural excellence.

Third in Mumbai was Khushi Vora, from Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Vidyalay, Borivali, with 99.60%. “My basics were always clear, and that is what got me this far,” she said. Her highest marks were in Sanskrit, with 99 out of 100; she also got 15 marks for excellence in art and sports. “I’ve completed my arangetram in Bharatnatyam,” she said, “Dancing has always been a great stress buster during times of pressure.”

Students with disabilities

This year, 7,805 students with disabilities appeared for the examinations across Maharashtra and 86.87% passed.

Siddesh Katkar, a disabled student from Swami Vivekananda English High School,Kurla, scored 81.20%. He said, “My brother helped me chase daily targets, which allowed me to score this well; I expected good marks, but these are numbers I am definitely surprised with.” His school, with several students with disabilities appearing for the exams, was one of those with a 100% score. “This is only our second year of offering SSC board examinations,” Principal Asha Binu Kumar said. “We are especially glad that we were able to cater to the emotional and physical needs of our disabled students.”