Alarming Gender Bias and Exam Failure Rates in Class 10 and 12 Boards

More than 65 lakh students failed their class 10 and 12 board exams last year, with state boards showing higher failure rates than national boards. The data reveals gender biases and discrepancies in performance, with girls generally outperforming boys. This has resulted in a lower retention rate and Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) at higher secondary levels.

Over 65 lakh students failed to pass their class 10 and 12 board exams last year, with state boards reporting higher failure rates than national boards, according to Ministry of Education sources. Analysis of results from 59 boards indicated that girls generally outperform boys, despite fewer girls taking exams in private schools.

A total of 33.5 lakh class 10 students didn't advance to the next grade, with 28 lakh of them failing. Similarly, 32.4 lakh class 12 students failed to complete their grade. These high failure rates contribute to low retention and Gross Enrolment Ratios at higher secondary levels.

The performance of students deteriorated compared to the previous year, possibly due to a larger syllabus. Notable regional and language-wise disparities were observed, emphasizing the need for standardization across different boards and curricula.

(With inputs from agencies.)