Bengaluru: The SSLC results may have been disappointing overall this year, but some students have stood out for their stellar performance. Three students, all from different socio- economic backgrounds, have scored a perfect 625/625, a feat achieved only once before in the history of the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB).
In 2016, Ranjan BS, a student from Poorna Prajna School, Shivamogga became the first to score a perfect 625/625 in the state's SSLC examination.
According to the KSEEB, this year's SSLC examination also saw the highest number of students score 624/625 and 623/ 625. "Six students have scored 624/625 , and nine, 623/625. This is a record as every year only one or two students are able to score this high," said a board officer.
Sadly, most of the toppers this year are only from a couple of developed districts and just a handful of students from the rest of the state have scored good marks, according to him.
"Although the state government is spending huge resources on secondary education it is sad that only a few districts are making real progress," he observed.
Visually impaired, but he scores 73%
"I never understood anything taught to me in the Government school. My father used to drop and pick me up, that's it. I could not see much, nor keep up with the teacher. Today, I use an Ipod with audio lessons and instructions to study. I was expecting only 70 % but got 73%," said an elated Ramesha N., an SSLC student from the Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled.
Ramesha was born with partial visual impairment. Today, he is gearing up to become an international businessman. His above average scores are a proof of his ability. "We need brains to survive in this world. I am interested in general knowledge, business, finance, investing, making profits and more. I will take up commerce and become a businessman one day," he said, without even a tinge of self-doubt. In the SSLC, many visually impaired students, like Ramesha, opt for Indian economics and Indian political science, instead of science and mathematics, informed Principal of Samarthanam, Krishnaiah.
"We teach all students normally in a classroom setting. Along with that, we have one-on-one tutoring. The students stay back in the hostel. Ramesha also had a tutor, spending exclusive time with him. He would use 'text to speech software' for self-study," explained Mr Krishnaiah.
Ramesha's mother works in a garment factory, while his father is employed in medicine export business. "They are really happy with my marks and are proud of me," Ramesh said, while enjoying his summer vacation at home.
Poor show by City students
Students of Bengaluru South, North and Rural have performed worse than last year in the SSLC examination. While the pass percentage in Bengaluru South academic district has fallen from 72.59 last year to 69.92 this year, Bengaluru North academic district has recorded a pass percentage of 71.44 as against 80.45 in 2016. Bengaluru Rural district, which topped the districts in its pass percentage last year, has this year fallen to 10th place with its percentage dropping to 77.03 from 89.85.
