3 min readPuneMay 6, 2025 12:52 AM IST
First published on: May 6, 2025 at 12:52 AM IST
There has been a significant drop in the number of students who passed arts stream in the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination as the passing percentage fell to 80.52 per cent this year.
Last year, the passing percentage rate was 85.88 per cent, 84.05 per cent in 2023 and 90.51 per cent in 2022, indicating that the passing percentage in arts stream has dropped 10 per cent in four years.
Hrishikesh Soman, former principal of the Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce, told The Indian Express, “It is a matter of concern. Why are so many people failing in the arts stream in the 12th standard? Many factors have to be checked and verified such as teaching methodology, sincerity of the students, and overall attitude of the junior college.”
Soman said that it was difficult to exactly point out the reason behind this pass percentage. “You can’t really draw a conclusion without the relevant data but it is possible that students scoring poorly in Class 10 have chosen arts. Over a period of time, this could have resulted a drop in the passing percentage, as the Class 12 exam is more difficult. Science and commerce are the streams that probably high scorers are opting for.”
He added that for colleges like Fergusson or Symbiosis, where the cutoffs are relatively high, the arts stream does not face such an issue.
On the possible improvement measures that could be taken to address this issue, Soman said, “There is no short term solution. With the National Education Policy being implemented gradually, we have to wait for a couple of years. Because in NEP, not just the content but the methodology is also going to change. So, with its proper implementation, there is a possibility of a change in the overall arts stream.”
Mahendra Ganpule, former head of Maharashtra School Principals Association, attributed the drop in the passing percentage to lack of student interest in arts careers and coaching industry in the science stream.
“There is no seriousness about a career in arts, and just to complete higher education, people are enrolling in it. There is not much awareness about careers in arts field…The quality of teachers is similar in science and maths, but the external coaching and tie-ups in these subjects help the students. However, there is not much thought about this in arts stream.”
Last year, the passing percentage rate was 85.88 per cent, 84.05 per cent in 2023 and 90.51 per cent in 2022 
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