Urdu-medium schools raise bar,just a little

“Yes,we have talked with the groom’s family. I want to become a teacher,” 18-year-old Alvi said. “I am really happy with my performance though I expected more. But this means I can continue with my studies.”

While the overall pass percentage for Urdu-medium schools in the city was not available on Friday,sources said it ranged between 55 and 60 per cent. Urdu-medium students have had to tackle with a lack of textbooks; trained teachers and proper infrastructure for years now,often lagging behind other government schools in the city in terms of pass percentage. Most of about 19 Urdu-medium schools,including government-aided schools,are concentrated in the Walled City.

But at Zeenat Mahal Sarvodaya Girls Senior School in Zaffrabad,the pass percentage — at 98.08 per cent — surpassed expectations. The school,which often held classes in corridors,has more than 4,000 students,has clocked an increase of almost 8.08 percent over last year’s results,Principal Raziya Begum said.

“We have struggled against all odds. The Directorate of Education has done a lot for us but the political will is lacking,” she said. “We have too many problems. We need so much but at least we have performed in such conditions. That’s commendable.”Begum said she made her teachers work with students and exercised vigilance and introduced extra-curricular activities for students so they could focus better. “We told children they needed to perform to make their lives different,” she said.

Over 200 students took the examinations,of which 121 scored a first division.

At Jama Masjid Gate No. 2 School,success was repeated with an overall pass percentage of 98. Last year,it had a 100 per cent result. Principal Shabana Nazir said there was only one student who requires compartment in English. “Otherwise,our results would have been 100 per cent,” she said. The Government Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya Pataudi House had an overall 100 per cent result.

Education Secretary Rina Ray,who focused on Urdu-medium schools by providing them with funds for textbooks,had hoped the overall pass percentage would be around 90 per cent.