TURA/SHILLONG: It was a momentous occasion for Sherwood School of Tura and the entire region of Garo Hills, when results of the Class X Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) Examinations were declared on Monday, as young Sherwoodian Chetna Bose secured the first position in the Top 20 merit list.
With a staggering 568 marks and letter marks in all the six subjects, Bose created a history of sorts by ensuring Tura retained the first position in the state for the third consecutive year.
Last year, Neelam Kumari of Embee Rosebud Secondary School, Tura bagged the first position while in 2018 it was Anurag Tiwari of Sherwood School who earned top accolades.
Barring the top position and two other positions to candidates from Garo Hills, almost all other position holders were from Shillong and East Khasi Hills-based schools.
Leading the merit holders from Shillong was Sainavika Modak of St. Thomas Higher Secondary School, Rynjah, who secured the second position, followed by Ainamdaphisha P Byrsat of Little flower School, Malki in the third position.
Armanki War of Seven Set Higher Secondary School was 4th while Dalangkiso Myrthong of Mairang Presbyterian Higher Secondary School secured the 5th position.
Students of St. Margaret’s Higher Secondary School, Shillong, Risa Higher Secondary School, Shillong, Ramakrishna Mission Secondary School, Mylliem, St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School, Shillong, Nongstoin Public Secondary School, R.K. Mission Higher Secondary School, Cherrapunji, Sohkha Govt. Higher Secondary School, Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School, Williamnagar, St. Anthony’s Higher Secondary School, Shillong, Janapriya Higher Secondary School, Bholarbhita, Gorkha Pathshala Higher Secondary School, Shillong, All Saints’ Diocesan Higher Secondary School, Shillong, North Liberty Higher Secondary School, Jowai, K.C. Secondary School, Shillong, Auxilium Girls’ Higher Secondary School, Shillong, St. Thomas Higher Secondary School, Mairang, Laban Bengalee Boys’ Higher Secondary School, Shillong, Nongspung Higher Secondary School; Sacred Heart Girls’ Higher Secondary School, Shillong, Stephen Memorial Secondary School, Shillong, Synod Higher Secondary School, Shillong, Church Of God (Ecc) Secondary School, and Tirot Singh Memorial Secondary School, Mawphanniew also made it to the Top 20 list.
A candidate who appeared as a private candidate also made it to the merit list.
There was also a pleasant surprise for East Garo Hills, a district that witnessed over a decade of militancy until two years ago, with Vicky Seal from the missionary-run Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School, Williamnagar securing the 10th position.
The plain belt region of West Garo Hills, whose inhabitants are experiencing a second wave of deluge in less than two months as flood waters from the Brahmaputra and Jinjiram rivers once again ravaged the region, finally had reason for cheer.
Rakibul Hazarika of Janapriya Higher Secondary School, Bholarbhita, located in Phulbari, was the lone student from the region to find a berth in the merit list securing the 12th position.
Several lesser known schools found their way in the Top 20 of the merit list in the SSLC.
St. Thomas Higher Secondary School bagged the merit spot after a long wait of 17 years, while Little Flower School also waited a long time to find itself on the top 3 list.
The first timers were Risa Higher Secondary School, Shillong and Ramakrishna Mission Secondary School, Mylliem.
St Anthony’s Higher Secondary School which swept the Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (HSSLC) Arts, Science and Commerce bagged the 11th position in the merit list.
Other lesser known schools in the Top 20 list are Sohkha Government Higher Secondary School, Sohkha, Nongspung Higher Secondary School, Nongspung, Church of God (Ecc), Secondary School, Shillong and Tirot Sing Memorial Secondary School, Mawphanniew.
On the other hand, the SSLC pass percentage was very dismal at only 50.31 per cent. In 2016 the pass percentage was 54.10 per cent, in 2017 the pass percentage was 54.04 per cent, in 2018 it was 56.76 per cent and in 2019 it was 55.72 per cent.
The pass percentage for the regular candidates was 75 while the pass percentage of private candidates with tests was 41.29. For private candidates without tests, the percentage was an abysmal 25.29.
West Jaintia Hills secured the best pass percentage of 69.96, followed by East Jaintia Hills (69%) and East Khasi Hills (68.94%). South Garo Hills had the lowest pass percentage of 26.57.
