Some schools have no lights or fans. While, in a few others there are only 30 teachers, teaching nearly 2000 students. In some schools, extra students are enrolled in some years due to political obligation, whereas in some others, shortage of rooms for classes to be held forces them to terminate some other classes before another class can take place. This is the harsh reality or the background of some of the successful schools in Madhyamik 2016. But in spite of such harsh condition, inadequate resources and abject poverty, these schools have made it to the merit list in great numbers. In fact, it is not just a couple of schools we are talking about here, but throughout the districts, schools located at remote villages, whose names have not been previously heard off, have made it into the merit list of this years madhyamik. But at the same time, prominent schools located in and around Kolkata and its sub-urbs, schools which have been in limelight, without whom the merit list was once unthinkable, have shockingly not made it to the merit list this time.
Mathabhanga High School, koochbihar, is the most shocking of the new entries. Souvik Barman, the apparent topper of the State, belongs to this school and left the entire State shell-shocked. It was way back in 1985, that Chayan Sarkar of this school, for the last time, appeared on the merit list of Higher Secondary Examination. Only 30 teachers for the 1800 students and yet a good number of students(around 36 students) got above 75%.
5th rank holder, Soham Chaudhary is from Shree Ramkrishna Shishu-Tirtha High School . The school started teaching Class X from 2006 onwards. This is the first time ever that someone from that school has found himself on the merit list. From Hooghly district also, Ghutiyabazar Binodini Girl’s High School, found itself on the merit list thanks to Debdutta Pal, who stood 2nd this year in madhyamik. The last time this school came into limelight was in 1998, for making it to the Higher Secondary merit list. Important mentions are Uttarpara Model School, which have never previously made it to the merit list before this year. Souradip Nath is the first candidate from this school to make it to the merit list.
Districts such as Nadia, Birbhum,east midnapore and Bardhaman also have similar schools located in them. For instance, Shiksha Niketan School in Fuliya. Souvik Mondol from this school, has bagged 5th place in the merit list and brought his school in the limelight. Built in 1952, this is probably the first time, a student of the school has bagged a prominent place.
Shri Shri Sharada Bidyapeeth, Dubrajpur, Birbhum, got a place in the merit list long back in 1972. This time, Romik Dutta became the 2nd rank holder and got his school their share of lost-fame. A huge number of students (in the range of 2000), is handled by some 30-40 teachers.
But even after getting facilities that district school students dare not dream about also, yet the results of the well established schools in Kolkata have been way below par. Though success rate is better in city schools such as Hare- Hindu but that is owing to the lesser number of students studying here compared to the district schools. The last time Hindu School appeared on the merit list was four years back. It is even worse for schools like Sakhwat Memorial Girls High School where no one made It to the merit list for the last 12 years.
The Vice principal of Hindu School, Mr Narayan Das says that due to the increasing influence of CBSE and ICSE affiliated schools, there has been a decline in the number of good students coming to the school. But the ones who are getting admitted, why aren’t they able to break the ice? Principal of Sakhwat Memorial, Papia Singh Mahapatra explained that ‘City-kids’ have lack of focus. From their childhood days only, they are going after specialising in a particular area.
Source: goo.gl/Wlphjf
