CHENNAI: Four schools - three in Villupuram and one in Cuddalore - accounting for a whopping 8.5% of the total 3,181 centums in the state in the Class 12 Chemistry exam of the state board has raised many an eyebrow.
A total of 272 students from these four schools secured centums in Chemistry, which is close to 50% of the roughly 600 students who wrote the exam in the schools. Interestingly, 167 of the roughly 450 students (37%) from the three schools in Villupuram who scored centum in Chemistry took the examination from the same centre, a government girls higher secondary school.
These 167 students include 65 from the same government school, 91 from a nearby private school and 11 from another private school. The 91 from the private school accounted for nearly two-thirds of the 148 students from the school who took the exam. Another 25 students from the school scored 99 marks. Similarly, besides 65 centums, 55 more from the government school also scored 99.
However, it is the private school in Kattumannarkoil in Cuddalore district that seems to have taken the cake for being a case of “too good to be true.”
As per a release by the school, 148 of its students took the Class 12 exams. Not only have all of them passed, a startling 105 scored centum in Chemistry, which is at least 70% of the total students.
Moreover, 82 scored centum in Mathematics, 62 in Biology and 61 in Physics. To put this in perspective, just this one school accounted for 2.7% of the 3,022 centums in Mathematics across the state, 7.5% of the 827 centums in Biology, and 5.4% of the 1,125 centums in Physics.
Many teachers and headmasters from various schools have raised concerns over this “unusual figures”, although no one preferred to be quoted. TNIE could not reach the staff of these schools for a comment.
Officials from the school ducation Department in Villupuram, however, attributed the results, particularly those from the government school, to efforts of the teachers and the students,
“The school is one of the top-performing schools in the district. The 65 students who scored centums had done well in Class 11 as well,” said a senior official. He pointed out how the overall performance of Villupuram also improved this year as it moved from 27th rank last year to 18th.
A senior official acknowledged that the issue of high concentration of centums in certain schools have come to their notice, adding that the director of examination has to decide on further action.
However, the director of examinations didn’t respond to TNIE’s attempts to reach out.
41% students of Pudukai model school fail
Pudukkottai: The government model higher secondary school for boys in Aranthangi has performed poorly in Class 12 boards with just 59.49% of students passing the exam. This is a steep fall from 82% the school registered in 2023-2024, as per the school education department As many as 296 students were enrolled in Class 12. Of these, 264 boys appeared for the exams, and only 157 students passed.
Sources in the school said around 80 students were irregular to classes and appeared for only one or two exams. On May 13, the Aranthangi Chamber of Commerce submitted a petition to the Chief Educational Officer K Shanmugam, demanding inquiry into the poor performance. “This school once produced graduates who now serve in high positions across sectors now it has taken a bad name, this issue must be probed,” Thangadurai told TNIE.
“Despite having better infrastructure and double the teaching staff, the result is worse than schools with far fewer resources,” he added. The school education department directed students to apply for supplementary exams, scheduled to begin on May 14, and has announced special coaching sessions. K Shanmugam said an inquiry report will be sent to the government.