HSC results 2022: Offline exams and anxiety hit pass percentage

Though the overall pass percentage of the 2022 HSC result for the Mumbai division has increased significantly compared to the pre-COVID times, there has been a year-on-year drop of nearly 9 per cent. Senior officials of the state board's Mumbai division attributed the drop to the switch from online to offline schooling, and the stress that followed.

Last year Mumbai division recorded a pass percentage of 99.79%. The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary & Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) declared the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) result on Wednesday. At 90.91%, the Mumbai division also has the lowest pass percentage in comparison to other eight divisions in the state.

Talking about the drop in pass percentage this year, a senior official from the Mumbai divisional board said, "Both the Stds XII and X board exams could not be held last year due to the pandemic and the results were declared as per internal assessments. However, this year the exams were held offline, after students took online classes for two years.

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The principal congratulates a student after the result, at Ruia College, on Wednesday. Pics/Atul Kamble

The gap in offline schooling and anxiety among many seem to be the cause behind the dip in the pass percentage across the state. However, the performance is still much better than the pre-COVID time (2019)."

State performance drops

The overall pass percentage of the state has also dropped. This year the state recorded an overall pass percentage of 94.22%, which is 5.41% less than last year. However, it was significantly higher than the pre-pandemic result (87.69%).

This was the first offline board exam since the pandemic was proclaimed in March 2020. The HSC practical and oral exams this year began on February 14 and were completed on March 3, while the written tests were held from March 4 to April 7. The state board administered the examination for the complete syllabus; however, due to the second wave, pupils were assessed through internal evaluation last year. The pass percentage for the Science stream was 99.45% in the state, 99.83% for Arts, and 99.91% for Commerce.

The Mumbai division comprises six sub-divisions based on regions like Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Mumbai city and suburbs. The Raigad region recorded the highest pass percentage of 93.11% followed by Thane with 92.67%, Palghar with 91.77% and Mumbai Suburbs 2 (Kurla to Mulund) with 91%. Mumbai Suburbs 1 (Bandra to Dahisar) and Greater Mumbai (South Mumbai) recorded the lowest pass percentages with 89.33% and 86.60% respectively.

90.91%
Pass percentage this year

99.79%
Pass percentage in 2021