Bihar- Class XII pass percentage drops 32% after major embarrassment
A year after a major results scam embarrassed the Bihar School Examination Board, a mere one-third of 12.4 lakh students who appeared for their Class XII exams passed this time. Compared to last year's 67.66%, the pass percentage in 2017 was 35.25%. This comes in the backdrop of stringent regulations after allegations of corruption and brazen favoritism.
Last year's PolSc topper said the subject taught her cooking
The scam came to light when Ruby Rai, who topped Political Science last year, gave absurd answers in an interview to a channel; among others, she said the subject taught her cooking. Her answer scripts were found filled with movie names and poetry; these were then replaced by properly-written sheets. At least 40 people were arrested, including former BSEB chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh.
For the first time, barcode-embedded sheets
In the aftermath of the scam, the board adopted stringent measures. For the first time, answer sheets were embedded with barcodes. Invigilation was stricter. "Complete process was full-proof and examinations were conducted in a very transparent manner," BSEB chairman Anand Kishor said a day before results were announced on May 30. However, those eligible for compartmental exam will get another chance, he assured.
How did students fare?
Boys, with overall pass percentage of 55.53%, outshone girls (44.47%) in the Class XII exams of 2017. Sources said 8.34% students secured first division, 23.65% second, and 3.26% third. The topper from each stream would get Rs. 1L cash, a laptop and an e-book reader. The second and third position holders would get Rs. 75,000 and Rs. 50,000 respectively.
