100% confident of SSLC results improving this year: Minister Madhu Bangarappa

100% confident of SSLC results improving this year: Minister Madhu Bangarappa

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, February 4, 2025: Karnataka Minister for School Education and Literacy Madhu Bangarappa on Monday said that he was "100 per cent confident" of the SSLC examination results improving this year.

The minister, however, made it clear that no grace marks would be awarded to students this year.

Admitting that there was scope for improvement in some districts, Madhu added, “Performance in some districts is extraordinary, while some need to improve, and I am sure it will increase marginally.”

Results were dismal last year prompting the department to award 10% grace marks to the students. But Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has issued strict instructions against awarding grace marks this year, he said.

When queried about the practice of awarding grace marks having existed for several years to promote those missing the passing mark by a whisker, Madhu said, “This is something that will have to be clarified after a discussion with department officials. Awarding marginal grace marks is a sensitive issue, and I will discuss this with department officials.”

Defending the webcasting system that the department introduced last year to check malpractice in examinations, Madhu added,

“It helps us assess the learning levels of children. Webcasting is mandatory at every centre.”

The minister pointed to some of the measures that districts have already taken to improve the performance of SSLC students in the examinations this year.

They are:

1. ‘Every day, every mark’ is a programme introduced in some districts wherein every student has to prepare for one mark in each subject for 50 days

2. Teachers are making ‘wake up’ calls to students so they start their preparations early in the day

3. Special classes for underperforming students

4. Group study sessions wherein underperformers prepare for the exams with the toppers

5. Zilla Panchayat CEOs are taking classes in some districts

6. Most districts have conducted mock tests to prepare students, with most of them being webcast