Online education, teaching pattern impact Class X pass rate
Nine of total 27 civic body schools had pass percentage of less than 50 per cent
VISAKHAPATNAM: Online education during Covid-19 pandemic has been cited as a major reason for poor performance of Class X students in Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) area. Lack of uniformity in teaching methods and absenteeism also impacted the pass rate.
Nine of total 27 civic body schools had pass percentage of less than 50 percent. The MVDM High School near the city's Old Post Office recorded the lowest 34.88 percent pass rate.
V. Srinivasa Rao, father of a failed SSC student studying in GVMC School, told Deccan Chronicle: “One of the reasons I feel about my son’s failure in tenth class is that both students and teachers did not pay attention to studies. Coronavirus protocols and online classes spoiled the teaching pattern. I bought a new smart phone for my son for online classes. He ended up playing video games in his leisure time.”
One of the teachers at K. Colony High School in Burma Colony, where the pass percentage is 48.35, said, “The examination pattern is not good. It is impossible to test a student's ability in just one test. Sometimes, an intelligent student may not perform well in the main exam simply because of illness or for some personal reason.”
KDPM High School teachers underlined that most schools with low pass percentage are in slums, where attendance of students is very low compared to students who care about education.
“Strict conduct of examinations in the wake of mass copying and complaints of paper leakage is also one of the reasons for lower pass rate. It is not advisable to get a pass percentage of more than 75 percent,” said Sanyasinayudu, a retired school teacher from Akkayyapalem.
When contacted, GVMC deputy educational officer D. Srinivas said, "We have not received any official indications from government about reasons behind poor passing rate in schools. These are only being speculated on social media."