Girls outshine boys in G-B elementary examination results

GILGIT: Girls dominated the top positions as the Board of Elementary Examination Gilgit-Baltistan (BEEGB) announced the results for fifth and eighth grades on Monday.

The overall pass percentages for the region stood at 28.62 per cent for fifth grade and 40.78pc for eighth grade, highlighting significant disparities across districts.

In the grade eight examinations, Naseeb from Girls High School Jutial, Gilgit, secured the first position with an impressive 729 out of 800 marks. Aqeela Maryam from Girls High School Mehdiabad, Skardu claimed the second position with 725 marks, while Mussarat Saifullah, also from Girls High School Jutial, Gilgit, stood third with 724 marks.

For fifth grade, Iqra Zahra from Girls Middle School Chalt Payeen, Nagar, clinched the top position with 535 out of 615 marks. Masoma Batool from Girls Primary School Harangus Thalley, Ghanche, stood second with 531 marks, while Bushra Murtaza from Boys High School Kuwas, Ameerabad, Ghanche, secured the third position with 525 marks.

Gilgit emerged as the top performer with a 51.69pc pass rate for grade five and an impressive 72.11pc for grade eight. Ghizer and Kharmang followed in second and third positions for both grades, with pass percentages of 34.22pc and 32.58pc for 5th grade, and 58.11pc and 50.93pc for 8th grade, respectively.

Hunza ranked fourth with a pass rate of 47.69pc for 8th grade while achieving 31.37pc in 5th grade. Skardu ranked fifth for 5th grade with a pass rate of 28.17pc but struggled in 8th grade, falling to ninth place with 31.01pc. Ghanche displayed mixed results, ranking sixth in 5th grade with a 24.87pc pass rate and maintaining the same position in 8th grade with 35.30pc.

Nagar recorded a pass rate of 19.14pc for 5th grade, placing seventh, but improved to fifth place in 8th grade with 36.52pc. Shigar ranked tenth (last) for 5th grade with a pass rate of 17.04pc but performed better in 8th grade, ranking seventh with 35.02pc. Diamer ranked ninth in 5th grade with 17.18pc and eighth in 8th grade with 32.44pc pass rate. Astore ranked last in 8th grade and eighth in 5th grade with a pass rate of 22.74pc and 17.87pc, respectively.

Talking to HUM News English, Director General of School Education Department G-B Faizullah Khan Lone explained that the lower pass percentages in the elementary results were partly due to stricter passing criteria introduced by the department. “We made minimum 40pc marks mandatory for passing and eliminated the grace marking system, which has contributed to the lower pass percentages.”

He noted that these measures were implemented to address the declining passing rates in 9th and 10th grades and to improve overall academic standards in the region. “InshanAllah, things will be better in the future,” Lone added.