Kathmandu, July 6:

Pointing that “1,13,408 could not pass the SLC examinations this year”, an educationist today termed the SLC results “disappointing.”

Speaking at an interaction organised by the Education Journalists’ Group, Mana Prasad Wagle said, “The SLC pass rate has increased as compared to the last year, but there is nothing to be happy with the result published today. The result is not as per the expectation.”

“Following the removal of grade-nine curriculum from the SLC course, the pass per cent should have reached 70 to 80 per cent,” he said.

This year, 58.64 per cent of regular examinees passed the SLC exams. Last year, 46.51 per cent of regular examinees had passed the exams.

He said the results proved that the education system is improper. He said a majority of failed examinees were students of public schools and based in rural areas.

“These schools need adequate number of capable teachers to boost their performance,” he said, adding, “A decentralised education system can be more helpful.”

Lekhnath Neupane, president of the ANNISU-R, said, “The increase in pass percentage does not indicate improvement in quality of education.” He attributed the increase in pass percentage to “leakage of questions and removal of grade-nine courses from the SLC curriculum.” The pass rate was lower than expected, he said.

Harka Prasad Shrestha, Controller of Examinations, Sanothimi, said the increase in the pass percentage was not unexpected. A more effective endeavour should be launched to increase the pass rate, he said.

Correct educational policies, commitment from political parties and the government and change in the education system can ensure better results, he said.