KARACHI, Aug 12: The female candidates maintained their supremacy over male candidates in the HSC Science (Pre medical), Part-II, annual examinations, 2003, results of which were declared by the Board of Intermediate Education, Karachi, on Tuesday, with a pass percentage of 54.04.

The first six positions in the consolidated merit lists, as prepared by the board, were claimed by nine candidates, including six female students. On the other hand female students secured a maximum of 284 A-1 grades, and 1,061 A grades, while male students could manage only 59 A-1 grades and 205 A grades in the examination.

Among the top six position holders, seven belonged to government colleges, while two came from a private higher secondary school. An increase of about 24 per cent was observed in the total number of candidates having secured A-1 grades, ie the figure jumped from 260 of 2002 to 343 of 2003 examinations.

The provincial Health department had allocated a total of 373 seats for admission to first year MBBS classes at DMC and SMC and as such it was understood that in addition to A-1 graders, another about 50 of the A graders might also run for the government medical colleges admissions.

In all 11,117 candidates, including 8,816 females, appeared in the examinations, out of whom 5,761 candidates, including 4,851 females, were declared to have passed the examinations. Pass percentage in females remained 56.70, while in the case of male students it was 43.23 per cent.

A close fight was observed between Maria Sayeed (seat no 177,748) and Javaria Rashid (177,735), both of St Joseph’s Government College for Women, for the first position. Maria stood first by securing 973 marks, while Javaria bagged second position by securing 972 marks.

Hafiz Abdul Moiz Fakih (seat no 170,493) shared the third position with a female student of the Agha Khan Higher Secondary School, Samin Inam (seat no 173,804), both securing 968 marks.

Forth position was also shared by two students, ie Sarah Zainab (seat no 177,604) of the PECHS Government College for Women, and Ifrah Tahir (seat no 177733) of the St Joseph’s College for Women. Saba Fatima (seat no 177777) of the St Joseph’s College got fifth position, while Ghazanfar Ali (seat no 170491) of the Adamjee College and Sadiq Saleem Rehmani (seat no 172211) of the Agha Khan HS School shared the sixth position in the merit list.

The Agha Khan Higher Secondary School, Pakistan Steel Cadet College, St Lawrence’s Government Girls Degree College, Shaheen Intermediate College and Happy Home High Secondary School managed to achieve a 100 per cent result. Those who attained 98 per cent or more, but less than 100, are: St Joseph’s College for Women, PECHS College for Women, Adamjee Government Science College and DHA Degree College for Women.

Out of 128 colleges, who sent up their candidates for examinations, about 60 could achieve a pass percentage of 50 and above. There were 15 educational institutions, which failed to see any of their students passing the examination. Last year the figure was seven.

The breakdown of candidates, who passed the examinations is as follows: Male; A 1 grade-95( 2.56 per cent), A grade-205 (8.91 per cent), B Grade-239 (10.39 per cent), C grade-276 (11.99 per cent), D grade-127 (5.52 per cent) and E grade-1 (0.04 per cent).

Female: A-1 grade-284 (3.22 per cent), A grade-1061 (12.03 per cent), B Grade-1559 (17.68 per cent), C grade-1499 (17 per cent), D grade-444 (5.04 per cent) and E grade-3(0.03 per cent).

Replying to a question, the chairman of the BIE, Karachi, Prof Iftikhar H Zaidi, said that board was surely going to take action against colleges and higher secondary schools, which performed below the mark in the examinations. We would initiate actions and also write to the government in regard to educational institutions where number of admissions were far below the standard requirements of the board or which had been unable to produce satisfactory results.

He said that idea of internal assessment, for reasons, had proved a failure from examination point of view to evaluate the candidates.

He said that performance of teachers was directly related with the quality of students and standards of education at any particular institution, and added that unless we get teachers dedicated to their teaching assignments and having command over their respective subjects, no improvement was possible.

Referring to an increase in the number of A-1 graders, the controller of examination, Prof Amjad Ali, said that it indicated to improving standards of teaching at the government-run colleges.

He informed that from year 2004, the board would make changes in the pattern of question papers and more importance would be given to short and multiple choice questions (MCQs), while subjective portion would be reduced. The board would issue model test papers in this regard in due course of time, he added.

Principal of St Joseph’s college, Dr Tanveer Anjum, vice principal of Agha Khan HS School, Talat J Siddiqui and BIE secretary Prof Zaheer A Paras, also spoke on the occasion.