18 September 2004	Saturday	02 Shaban 1425

KARACHI, Sept 17: The Board of Intermediate Education, Karachi, on Friday announced the results of HSC Humanities (Regular) group annual examinations 2004, with an overall pass percentage of 52.54, which is 6.36 per cent higher as compared to last year's.

During the last some years, Humanities students had been unable to secure A-1 grades in exams, but this year, one girl student was been placed in A-1 grade. The said girl was said to have originally secured 979 out of 1100 marks, but was then awarded a grace mark so she could fulfil the 80 per cent marks criteria required for A-1 grade.

All top three positions were bagged by students of DHA Degree College for Women, who included Maria Malik, seat no 43890 (first), Wajiha Tariq, seat no 43893 (second) and Hina Iqbal, seat no 43886 (third).

According to a BIE notification, as many as 14,569 students, including 13,065 girls, appeared in the exams, out of which 7,655, including 7,264 girls were declared pass. The pass per centage of boys came to 25.80, while it was 55.62 per cent in the case of girls.

In comparison to last year's figures, the number of boys taking the Humanities (regular) exams had increased by 36.35 per cent. The overall number of candidates appearing in the exams, with a reference of last year's figures, had increased from 13,746 to 14,569.

Of the 52 boys and 102 girl colleges and higher secondary schools, the results of four private colleges and higher secondary schools remained 100 per cent. But, it would be pertinent to note that the number of candidates sent for exams by these institutions ranged from one to six.

The maximum number of candidates, 753, was sent by the Government Abdullah College for Women, followed by Sir Syed Government Girls College, Nazimabad, (749) and Khursheed Girls College (693).

Among the government sector colleges, the Government Degree Boys/Girls College Stadium Road had the highest pass percentage (90.36), followed by St Joseph's Government College for Women (89.95).

As many as 12 boys and four girls colleges gave zero result, while the performance of another eight colleges remained below 10 per cent. The gender wise breakdown of successful candidates is as follows: Boys; B Grade, 21 (1.40%); C grade, 94 (6.25%); D grade, 221 (14.69%); and E grade, 45 (2.90%).

Girls: A-1 grade, 1 (0.01%); A grade, 84 (0.64%); B Grade, 844 (6.46%); C grade, 2806 (21.48%); D grade, 3141 (24.04%); and E grade, 390 (2.99%). The results of seven students were withheld for use of unfair means, while that of another 77 candidates for want of correct information or necessary documents, added the BIE notification.

Speaking at a ceremony, organized by the BIE for introduction of position holders to media persons, the chairman of the board, Prof Iftikhar Zaidi, noted that education in Humanities group or subjects used to be paying, but now majority of candidates appearing in competition examinations belonged to medical or engineering educational group.

He said that securing great marks in arts subjects was a difficult job in comparison to science students, but arts subjects were the subjects of intellectuals. He congratulated students on their achievements and pointed out that students of Humanities were in no way inferior to students of other groups.

After listening to position holders during their press interviews, the Controller of Examinations, BIE, Prof Mohammed Amin Khalid, said the impression that marking system in the case of Humanities group was different from those of other groups was wrong. "Neither are they given tough papers nor are their papers marked strictly," he clarified.

Position holders, called for a change in the pattern of question papers and inclusion of objective questions. They maintained that education in humanities was equally good as compared to other groups.

Maria Mali, who secured first position, said that before the results, she too, like other arts students, was doubtful about her achievement, as she had the impression that Humanities students were not given due importance or taken as serious students.

She desired continuing her further education in fine arts, saying the medium of instruction did not make any difference to students in examinations, but examiners should do justice with the students of the Humanities group.

Wajiha Malik, the second position holder, was satisfied with her performance, and said that she wanted too wanted to study fine arts in future. She urged authorities concerned to make changes in the syllabus and the pattern of papers pertaining to intermediate classes.

Hina Iqbal, who secured third position, was of the view that arts students were not marked properly, while on the other hand examination papers given to them were sometimes not in line with the textbooks or course plan. "Arts students get confused after seeing the question papers, which gives to understand that there is some problem in the system," she mentioned.

HUMANITIES (PRIVATE): The BIE Karachi on Friday also announced the results of HSC Humanities (Private) group Part -I annual examinations. In all, 8,571 candidates, including 1,832 girls, took the exams. About 28.55 per cent cleared in all six papers.

The break up of successful candidates is as follows: six papers, 2447; five papers, 2163; four papers, 1647; three papers, 1125, two papers, 691; and one paper, 377.