State to re-conduct entrance exam for meritorious schools

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, July 13

The Education Department has decided to re-conduct the entrance exam for meritorious schools as only 2,700 aspirants scored the qualifying marks for 4,100 seats.

The aspirants need to score at least 50 per cent marks to qualify for admission in nine meritorious schools. Students scoring 80 per cent and above in Class X are eligible to appear in the entrance exam.

Of the 4,919 students who appeared in the exam, about 2,200 couldn’t get even 50 per cent marks. The exam was conducted in the last week of June.

If the authorities stick to the present merit list, about 1,400 seats will remain vacant in meritorious schools, which are managed by the Society for Promotion of Quality Education for Poor and Meritorious Students on behalf of the state government.

“About 2,700 students could clear the exam. Therefore, we have decided to re-conduct the exam. Students who have already qualified the exam need not appear again. The test will be conducted only to fill seats, which otherwise would have remained vacant. The date will be announced soon,” said Prashant Kumar Goyal, Director General, School Education.

The previous SAD-BJP government had opened the meritorious schools to provide free education and boarding facilities to students belonging to economically weaker sections. The schools offer admission to Class XI and XII in medical, non-medical and commerce streams.

These schools registered a pass percentage of more than 98 in Class XII exams, compared with the overall pass percentage of 62.

Last year, only 3,028 out the total 6,547 candidates could crack the exam, forcing the state government to re-conduct the test.