The SSLC exam results have surpassed expectations this year, with 76.13 per cent of the students clearing the exam, highest number ever recorded in the state. The pass percentage of fresher students — 82.26 — is also a new record. But the performance of Bengaluru North and Rural academic districts has fallen alarmingly.

Bengaluru Rural which had topped the districts in 2011, has fallen to 18th position with an 81.12 pass percentage. It has been overtaken by Udupi academic district, which occupies the top slot this year with a pass percentage of 89.53. Bidar remains at the bottom of the table.

State primary and secondary education minister, Visveswaraya Hegde Kageri, who announced the results on Thursday, attributed the record pass percentage to implementation of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and initiatives like parihara bodhane (remedial teaching). Girls have done better this year too with a pass percentage of 81.16 as against 71.73 among the boys. “Rural students have outsmarted their urban counterparts, private schools have done better than the government and aided schools. Visually challenged students have set a new record with a pass percentage of 85.71,” Mr Kageri said.

Toppers Talk
Navya R. Shetty
State topper 623/625
Scoring 623 out of 625, Navya R. Shetty of SVS English School, Bantwal in Dakshina Kannada district, topped the SSLC this year. “I knew I would do well but I didn’t expect to stand first in the state,” says the shy girl who believes that there are no shortcuts to success.

Navya prepared for the exam by studying seven to eight hours a day. “I like all the subjects. If I had neglected even one, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve this aggregate,” she says, admitting that her interest lies in science. But ask her if she plans to do medicine, and she says a firm “No”.

Although happy for her success, her parents, Rathnaker Shetty, a commerce professor at the Government Boys’ P.U. College, Malleswaram, Bengaluru and Prabha R. Shetty a B.Com graduate, say they did not pressure her to come out on top.

“We are very happy that she topped. Looking at her preparations, I had expected her to do well. She was always a hard worker. But I believe it is also God’s grace and her luck that she got the top rank,” says Mr Shetty

For Navya, studying has never been a burden as she enjoys it. She prefers studying aloneand beats the stress by listening to music and reading books on jokes. She is passionate about sketching and art. Not definite about her future plans, she says, “I am taking one step at a time now that SSLC is done with. I still have time to decide about my future.” Does she have a message for other students aspiring to do well in the SSLC results? “I am nobody to tell people how to do things. If they have the will power and dedication anything is possible,” she replies shyly.

S SUHAS
Have a clear aim in mind and don’t leave things for the last minute, says S. Suhas of Poornapragna School in the city, spelling out his formula for academic excellence. The boy who bagged third place in the SSLC rank list this year by scoring 620 out of 625, hopes to move on to doing PCMB and “achieving great things in life.”

NAMRATA
Namrata of Sandipini High School, Shimoga, too bagged third place with identical marks, scoring 100 in three subjects. Her ambitions lie in applied science and research. “My parents and teachers inspired me but did not pressure me,” she says. Both her father, N.K.Sridhar, an administrator with the KSRP unit at Machenahalli near Shimoga and her mother , Sandhya , are delighted with her success.

NITHIN GOWDA
Inspired by the Puneeth Rajkumar starrer, Pruthvi, Nithin Gowda , the fourth topper of the state in the SSLC exams, has his eyes set on becoming an IAS officer. His performance is all the more remarkable as he is a student of the Kannada medium government high school in Aththalli, a remote village near Bannur in Mysore district. Although he has scored 610 out of 625, he is unhappy with his results and wants to apply for revaluation. “I expected to do better,” says the boy, who is the son of a school teacher, Vishkante Gowda. A taluk level shuttlecock player and a state level Prathibha Kaaranji quiz player, Nithin has no doubts he wants to be an IAS officer, like his hero in the film Pruthvi, although his dad would like him to become a heart specialist.