For the keen observer, it seems every academic examination result portents doom for Nagaland. At the recently declared NBSE/HSLC Examination 2022 results, we saw that a total of 28,938 students appeared for the exam out of which 18,721 qualified. The qualified percentage was 64.69, the lowest in the last 6 years. Here, it is to be noted that 10,217 candidates failed to qualify this year.
If that is not problematic enough, the Three Years Undergraduate Final Semester Examination 2022 Results just declared the other day by Nagaland University draws an even grimmer picture but in a different shade. How different, we will come to that later.
It is to be noted that a total of 6,770 students appeared for the 6th semester examination in 5 streams under NU out of which 5,706 qualified. The pass percentage was 84.27, which is quite satisfactory in a way. However, if we take a closer look, we will notice that 5,904 of the 6,770 students who appeared were from the Arts stream, a staggering 87.2% while the other four streams of B.Sc, B.Com, BBA and BCA comprised of a combined figure of a paltry 12.8% or 866 students. If that doesn’t spell doom, what will?
Now, turn the clock back 5 years to the 2017 NBSE/HSLC Examination. Those who appeared in the 6th semester exam this year were those who qualified in the 2017 NBSE/HSLC Examination where a total of 22,446 students appeared for the exam but only 15,754 qualified. Of the 15,754 qualified students, only 6,770 students went on to appear for the 6th semester exam under NU in 2022. Which means (15,754 – 6,770 = 8,984) students went elsewhere. That in itself requires a thorough investigation.
Now, coming back to how differently grim the picture is, and just how out of equilibrium our education scenario is, we have noticed that 5,904 of the 6,770 students were from the Arts stream. Of the remaining 866 students, 586 were from the Commerce stream while 222 were from the Science stream. Business Administration and Computer Application streams had 35 and 23 students respectively.
From a layman’s perspective, it can be surmised that this monumental disparity in the number of Arts students and the rest is because we still don’t understand what academic education is all about. The problem also lies in the fact that we have developed a phobia against science and math subjects.
The intention of this column is simply to highlight the disproportionately imbalanced numbers between Arts students and the others, with the hope and belief that some qualified experts would research and provide solutions. Meanwhile, it is strongly believed that our society as a whole will not progress as long as the Arts overshadow the Sciences.
Also read: Interesting Numbers