Science most preferred stream for Class XII, sees rise in girl students

Science is emerging as the preferred stream among higher secondary students, with a sharp rise in the number of girls clearing Class XII in the science stream, according to the Education Ministry data.

In 2013, 13.4 lakh girls passed Class XII in the science stream; by 2024, the number had more than doubled to 28.1 lakh — a 110% increase. Overall, 36.3 lakh students cleared Class XII science in 2013, rising to 61 lakh in 2024 — a 68.2 per cent jump.

More girls cleared the science stream than the arts stream in 2024 — 28.13 lakh versus 27.23 lakh — a difference of nearly 90,000. The share of boys passing in the science stream also rose, from 48 per cent in 2023 to 51 per cent in 2024.

“This may be due to improved facilities such as subject-specific labs, trained teachers, Atal Tinkering Labs and smart classrooms,” an official said, adding, “The demand for science teachers is expected to grow, and states must factor this into training and recruitment plans.”

When boys and girls are considered together, 44 per cent of students cleared Class XII in the science stream in 2023; this rose to 47 per cent in 2024. In contrast, the arts stream saw a dip — from 40 per cent in 2023 to 38 per cent in 2024.

The data also highlights the limited reach of open schooling. Of 6.98 lakh students enrolled, only 3.4 lakh passed. The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) accounted for just 31 per cent (2 lakh) of total open board students.

“NIOS has a strong presence in Delhi, Rajasthan and Haryana — states with lower failure rates — but it needs expansion to other parts of the country,” said the official.

Meanwhile, the Centre has recommended that seven states — Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Kerala, Telangana, West Bengal, Manipur and Assam — adopt a common board for Classes X and XII, citing consistently poor academic results.