The Kolhapur division has slipped to sixth place in the Maharashtra Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) results this year, recording a pass percentage of 89.97%. This marks a decline of 3.7 percentage points compared to the previous year, when the division had secured the second rank in the state.
Division Performance Overview
The Kolhapur division, which comprises the districts of Kolhapur, Sangli, and Satara, has traditionally been among the top four divisions. However, this year it fell behind the Konkan, Pune, Amravati, Nashik, and Mumbai divisions. Konkan topped the state with a pass percentage of 94.14%, followed by Pune at 91.25%, Amravati at 90.92%, Nashik at 90.72%, and Mumbai at 90.08%. Last year, the Kolhapur division had posted a pass percentage of 93.64%.
Reasons for the Decline
Chairman Rajesh Kshirsagar explained that the results reflect stricter monitoring and the correction of previously inflated scores. He stated, "Kolhapur and Satara districts have performed well with around a 90% pass rate, but Sangli has recorded only 86%. Extensive CCTV coverage and online monitoring of exams through invigilators' mobile phones in each classroom helped prevent malpractices." The Kolhapur division has 1,019 junior colleges, with examinations conducted at 177 centres.
District-Wise Breakdown
- Kolhapur: Pass percentage of 91.86%, with 43,946 students clearing the exam out of 47,838 who appeared.
- Sangli: The lowest result in the division at 86.1%, with 26,527 students passing out of 30,806 examinees.
- Satara: Pass percentage of 90.89%, with 28,925 students passing out of 31,824 who appeared.
Gender-Wise Performance
Gender-wise results showed girls once again outperforming boys. Girls achieved a pass percentage of 94.81%, while boys recorded 85.52%, a gap of 9.29 percentage points.
Expert Opinion
Senior educationist Bharat Kharate attributed the declining performance to changing student priorities. He said, "Students now believe that merely passing the HSC is sufficient, as their careers depend largely on entrance exam scores. They focus on competitive exams and neglect descriptive answer writing for HSC. Policymakers need to acknowledge this reality and reform the examination system accordingly."
