Mangaluru: Government high schools in Dakshina Kannada (DK) have recorded a sharp improvement in SSLC results this academic year, with the number of schools securing 100% pass results more than doubling compared to last year.
Key Highlights
According to district data, 110 of the 191 government high schools achieved 100% results. In the previous academic year, only 48 government high schools secured 100% results. Overall, government schools in the district posted a pass percentage of 97.2%, a significant rise from the 87.5% they recorded in 2024-25.
Performance Breakdown
- Among 191 government high schools, 68 recorded above 90% results.
- 12 schools secured above 80% results.
- One school reported results above 60%.
The district's overall performance has also improved substantially. Out of 524 high schools in Dakshina Kannada, 349 schools secured 100% results this year, compared to just 148 out of 521 schools in the previous academic year.
Aided vs Unaided Schools
While government schools have shown major gains, aided schools continue to lag behind. Of the 103 aided high schools in the district, only 50 recorded 100% results. In contrast, unaided schools continued their strong performance, with 189 out of 230 schools securing 100% results. Last year, of the 148 schools that achieved 100% results, 48 were government schools, with 40 of those located in rural areas. Some government schools have also maintained a record of securing 100% results for consecutive years.
Reasons for Improvement
Laxminarayan, the nodal officer for SSLC examination in DK, attributed the improvement in government school results largely to changes in the passing criteria. He said for the 2025-26 academic year, SSLC pass marks were reduced to 33%. Of the total 100 marks, 20 were allotted for internal assessment, while pen-and-paper exams accounted for 80 marks. He noted that most students scored well in internal assessment, which helped them cross the minimum passing threshold. "This became a positive for government high school children, where a majority have passed with good marks," he added.
Challenges for Aided Schools
On the weaker performance of aided schools, Laxminarayan said the reasons were varied, including the absence of permanent appointments, lack of seriousness of school managements regarding results, and that many of those schools are on the verge of closure. He also pointed to lower student strength in rural areas as a contributing factor.
Teacher Efforts
The headmaster of a government high school said teachers had put in considerable effort and closely followed model question papers. The revised 33% pass mark, the head said, proved to be a major advantage for students, many of whom might otherwise have dropped out after failing the SSLC exams.
