Tshering Palden

Scoring 88.75 percent, Bhuwan Giri, a science student from Motithang HSS topped the 2007 Bhutan Higher Secondary Education Certificate (BHSEC) examination.

Another science student from Gelephu HSS, Yogesh Mongar, followed closely with 88.25 percent and Chencho Lham, from Drugyel HSS, came third with 85.50 percent.

The nationwide pass percentage was 84.80 percent, down by 9.35 percent from 2006. Bhutan Board of Examinations (BBE) officials attributed this to the Art students’ poor performance. Science students performed better with an overall pass percentage of 95.73 percent.

Of the 5,027 students, who sat for the examinations, 2,402 males and 1,861 females got through. While the commerce stream saw the highest number of students, 1,910, appearing for the examination, science had the least, 1,337 students.

The results will be available online after 3 pm today at www.education.gov.bt/exam and at www.druknet.bt for students to surf.

Students wishing to recheck their papers can do so from February 14 to 29 upon payment of Nu 200 per paper along with application forms to BBE.

This is the second BHSEC ex- aminations after it switched from the council for the Indian school certificate examinations in 2006. Students from 28 higher secondary schools, including seven private schools, appeared for the examinations.

Meanwhile, out of 177 students, who sat for the Institute for Language and Cultural Study (ILCS) examinations in 2007, only 147 passed. The pass percentage dropped by 12.35 percent in 2007 from 95.33 percent in 2006. 75 teacher candidates out of 82 passed the examinations. The clerical rechecks will be done be- tween February 15 and March 15.

The country’s 11 tertiary institutes will take in 1,450 students.

Sherubtse College will take in most, 335 students, followed by Jigme Singye Wangchuck College of Business Studies in Gedu, which will absorb 240, Paro College of Education, 190, Royal Institute of Management, 167, Samtse College of Education, 135, Jigme Namgyal Polytechnic in Dewathang, 125, College of Science and Technology in Rinchhending, 95, College of Natural Resources in Lobesa, 77, and the Royal Institute of Health Sciences, 50.