TN SSLC exam results: Students prefer computer science and commerce to biology
Chennai: The math-biology group, the most sought after group in plus-1, is losing its sheen due to various reasons including Neet as toppers in SSLC exams are preferring commerce and maths-computer science streams this year.
SSLC exam results were declared on Wednesday and most of the schools started the plus-1 admission process on the same day.
“On the first day, most students wanted to join commerce or maths-computer science group in plus-1. There has been a dearth in demand for biology group due to Neet fear,” said G.J. Manohar, the headmaster of MCC Higher Secondary School in Chetpet.
Of 35 students who have scored above 450 marks in MCC Higher Secondary School, 20 students opted for commerce and except a few the remaining students opted for computer science branch. Until a few years ago, the demand for biology and computer science used to be the same level in the school. “We have created a block on students' mind that Neet is tough. It has to be removed,” he said.From last year, many students prefer to join commerce stream.
“Until last year, most of the top scoring students preferred biology group. But, this year the trend has changed and students prefer maths-computer science and commerce streams. Preference wise, the biology group was pushed to third place,” said N. Vijayan, founder and principal of Zion Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Tambaram.
Some headmasters said the students feel that they have to prepare for two exams if they opt for biology group and hence preferring other streams.
However, the students who have got more than 490 marks out of 500 still preferring to join biology group. H. Catherine Cressey and K.L. Induja who have scored 495 and 494 marks said they wanted to join biology group as they wanted to become doctors. “We are confident of clearing the exam,” one of them said.
Most students who opt for other commerce or other courses are doing so under peer pressure or wanted to choose the course where their friends are joining.
Shashi Swaransingh, headmistress, Jaigopal Garodia Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Virugambakkam, said many students are asking for business maths and commerce group without knowing the career options well.
“In our school, we do not see a major difference and there is a balance in demand. It may be 60:40 comparing the demands for commerce and biology groups,” she said. K.P. Raja Kennedy, headmaster, Government Model Higher Secondary School in Saidapet, also said the demand for biology group is not high this year. “We have got 100 per cent results this year. Many of them wanted to join commerce group” he said.
Corpn schools maintain high pass percentage
Registering a tad higher pass percentage in SSLC examinations, the schools maintained by Greater Chennai Corporation have recorded 93.63 pass percentage this year, overtaking last year's record by 0.26 per cent. Among the 70 corporation schools, 30 schools achieved 100 per cent pass record.
According to the Chennai Corporation data, of the total 5,908 students who appeared for the exams held in March - April 2018, 5,516 students cleared the examination. 2502 boys of 2765 and 3014 girls of 3143 cleared the exams.This year, of all subjects only one centum has been recorded in Social Science. While 40 students secured marks above 450, as many as 416 students secured above 400 marks.
