Mangaluru (The Hindu): With a pass percentage of 57.36, they have fared better than their counterparts in rural areas

Breaking away from the usual trend, students from urban colleges, with 57.36 per cent passes, have fared better than their counterparts in rural areas (56.66 per cent) this year.

Of the 4.88 lakh students who wrote the exam in urban areas, 2.80 lakh cleared it, while in rural areas, 83,605 of the total 1.47 lakh students passed.

However, sources in the Department of Pre-University Education said the difference in the pass percentage of urban and rural students was only 0.7 points, which made it statistically insignificant to draw any inference. Explaining one of the possible reasons, an official said the dip in the arts results may have led to this as more number of students from rural areas opt for arts combinations.

DK tops
The highest pass percentage has been secured by Dakshina Kannada (90.48) which has retained the top spot yet again. Yadgir district at 44.16 per cent is at the last spot among the 31 education districts. Incidentally, Yadgir has dropped nine places when compared with last year.

Although the overall pass percentage has dipped by 3.34 points, Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education Kimmane Ratnakar claimed that the quality of the results had improved. About 11.36 per cent of the 3.64 lakh students who passed the exam had got distinction (above 85 per cent marks). Last year, 10.38 per cent students had obtained distinction. Similarly, 52.13 per cent students had got first class, against last year’s 51.87 per cent, he said.

Colleges with zero passes

As many as 91 colleges have recorded zero pass percentage. Last year, the number was 47. The number of colleges that have secured cent per cent passes is 41. Last year it was 55.

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Number of centums increase

The number of centums bagged by students this year has increased by 696 compared with last year. This year, the total number of centums stands at 6,939, shared among 3,062 students. The highest number of centums has been scored in business studies – 1,997. Last year, there were 2,007 centums in business studies. The least number of centums has been bagged in Optional Kannada and French, with one student each scoring a 100.

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46.89 p.c. passes among Kannada-medium students

Only 46.89 per cent of the 2.87 lakh students who took the II PU exam in Kannada medium have passed this year. The pass percentage of those who wrote the exam in English medium is 65.71. The pass percentage of Kannada-medium students has come down by 6.52 points and that of English-medium students by 1.16 points when compared with last year.

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Get scanned copies of answer scripts

In a first, the DPUE has decided make scanned copies of answer scripts available online. The department has reduced the fee for answer script copies from Rs. 504 to Rs. 400. It has also waived the cost of re-totalling. Last year, it would cost Rs. 336 for re-totalling. The cost of re-evaluation, however, remains the same (Rs. 1,260). The last date to apply for the scanned copies is May 30 and for re-evaluation it is June 7.

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Free coaching for supplementary exam

The DPUE has decided to provide free coaching for candidates who would appear for the supplementary exam. Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education Kimmane Ratnakar said such candidates would be given 20 hours of coaching. The last date to pay the fee for the supplementary exam is June 6. To register for the supplementary exam, students have to pay Rs. 101 for one subject, Rs. 201 for two subjects, and Rs. 302 for three or more subjects, and a marks card fee of Rs. 36.

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Management-wise pass percentage

Unaided PU colleges have performed the best with 71.86 per cent passes, while corporation PU colleges have fared the worst, with only 55.62 per cent of the students clearing the exam. The pass percentage of government PU colleges stands at 56.58, aided PU colleges at 61.66 and that of bifurcated PU colleges is 69.76.

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Results withheld

Writing the wrong registration number or changing subjects at the last minute or not producing certificates if they have availed of benefits in the special category has proved costly to 26 students as their results have been withheld by the DPUE. Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education Kimmane Ratnakar said that results of none of the students had been withheld in connection with the chemistry question paper leakages. “The Criminal Investigation Department did not communicate anything to us about the involvement of students in the paper leakages and therefore we have not withheld any results because of this,” he said.