HSLC results: Tales of grit & courage emerge from BTAD

Guwahati: Chirang district recorded the lowest HSLC pass percentage in the state with an abysmal 29.85% of its examinees passing. The district's frequent law and order problems and the December 23 massacre of adivasis by National Democratic Front of Boroland-Songbijit rebels have been cited as reasons for the worrying figure.
Not just Chirang, parts of BTAD, including Kokrajhar and Udalguri, have fared poorly in the exam.The pass percentages of the two districts are 52.49 and 51.48, respectively. “Violence, frequent bandhs and breakdown of law and order are reasons for the poor performance. The results of the candidates who took the HSLC exam from relief camps are still being ascertained,” said J S Brahma, inspector of schools, Chirang.
Even amid the alarming statistics, tales of grit and determination are emerging. The houses of many candidates had been burnt in the December 23 carnage and their belongings, including books and study material, lost. Some passed, but some failed to clear the hurdle.
“Over 1,000 matriculate candidates from Chirang were affected by the violence. A total of 567 students, who took the exam, are still living in relief camps,” he said. These candidates were helped by district administrations, local students’ bodies and voluntary organizations that provided them with study material, special coaching and clothes.
In Kokrajhar, All Bodo Students’ Union set up temporary shelters in its local offices across the district. Ten candidates took the exam at the Jaharbani Anchalik office. Three secured second division and four, third. In Kasugaon, nine candidates took the exam. Two got second division and five, third. In its North Kokrajhar office, 16 candidates took the exam and two cleared it. “These students lost everything,” said Nion Mushahary, general secretary of ABSU, Kokrajhar.
An NGO, NEDAN, sheltered 121 matriculate and higher secondary students from both the Bodo and adivasi communities. Sixty-six students took the HSLC exam. Two secured first division and 12 got second division.