Karnataka Pre-University results see 5 per cent dip, girls shine again

Among districts in the State, Udupi topped the result charts with 90.1 per cent of the candidates clearing the test followed by Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada districts .

Female candidates outdid male candidates, with pass percentage for female and male students being 60.28 per cent and 44.74 per cent respectively. (EPS)

BENGALURU: There were not too many surprises in the Second Pre-University results announced on Thursday. Girls outperformed boys once again, the pass percentage saw another dip and Udupi topped the districts while Bidar was at the bottom. But the worrying trend is the recurring dip in pass percentage.

This year, it slipped by around 5 per cent, from 57.2 last year to 52.38 per cent. In 2015, the pass percentage was 60.54. PU department officials say it is due to stricter valuation and stringent measures against copying this time. Even the number of colleges with zero-pass results increased from last year’s 91 to 132.

Among toppers, girls came out in flying colours. Srujana N from Expert PU College, Mangaluru, and Radhika Pai from SV PU College, Udupi, stood first in the Science stream by securing 596 marks out of 600. Shrinidhi PG from RNS PU college, Bengaluru, and Sai Samarth of Satya Sai Loka Seva Institutions in Alake (DK district) shared the first rank in Commerce by securing 595. In Arts stream, Chaitra from Indu PU College, Kotturu (Ballari) stood first by securing 589 out of 600.

In Commerce stream, of the top 10, eight are girls while in Arts it is seven and six in Science.

Among districts, Udupi, which was placed second last year, pipped Dakshina Kannada to bag the top position with an overall pass percentage of 90.01. Dakshina Kannada secured 89.92 per cent. Among districts that have fared badly, Bidar is at the bottom of the heap with 42.05 pass percentage.

The pass percentage of 52.38 is the lowest recorded in the past five years. The authorities have justified it by saying it is due to stringent measures taken by the department during examinations and evaluation.

Tanveer Sait, state Primary and Secondary Education Minister, said, “This time we have taken several stringent measures which prevented candidates from indulging in malpractice. During evaluation too, we were very strict and did not allot grace marks.”

Officials, however, admit grace marks were given to 13,000 students, who were falling a couple of marks short to ensure they passed.