…girls sweep all top positions

Thinley Namgay  

Class X students who appeared in the Bhutan Certificate of Secondary Education (BCSE) examinations last year had outperformed the previous batches to set the highest pass percentage in eight years.

The pass percentage was 96.57, an increase of 2.94 percent from 2019.

Of 12,813 candidates who appeared in the exam from 130 schools (124 government and six private schools) 6,891 were female, and 5,922 were male. Of that, 439 failed.

The pass percentage was calculated based on the number of candidates who passed in Dzongkha, English and three other subjects.

Srijana Giri from Ugyen Academy in Punakha topped the exams with 94.6 percent closely followed by Rigzay Lhamo from Lungtenzampa Middle Secondary School with 94 percent.

Kinzang Tshomo from Damphu Central School (CS) in Tsirang, Yeshi Tsheyang Zam from Ugyen Academy and Namkha Dema from Gesarling CS in Dagana secured 93.6 percent each came third.

Srijana Giri said that she was overwhelmed. “I worked hard but didn’t expect that I would top the exam. I owe it to Ugyen Academy’s principal and teachers.”

She said that many students would think that Class X exams were not important. But she added that there was no room for complacency and students must strive for excellence in all the classes.

Srijana Giri is also a passionate reader. “Students should also give priority to co-curricular activities that can shape their lives,” she said.

According to Bhutan Council for School Examinations and Assessment, 92.67 percent of the students passed in Agriculture For Food Security, which is the best pass percentage subject-wise. However, only 46.85 percent of the students passed in mathematics, which is one of the lowest pass percentages.

Officials said that the syllabus coverage was 65 percent due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But they added that there were no changes in the setting of exam papers.   

Education Minister Jai Bir Rai said that despite the Covid-19 pandemic, students performed well due to the collective efforts of teachers, parents and students. “All the toppers are girls, but boys did equally good.”

There is no cut-off point to qualify for Class XI. The private schools will absorb 1,800 students.

The pass percentage in Class X has always been more than 90 percent since 2006.