Another feature that catches one's attention, apart from the rate of success, is the quantum jump in the number of candidates that achieved a GPA of five, the monopoly of which is of the ten top schools of the country, most of which are in the capital. It is worthwhile to note that the new system of calculating the marks for the elective subject accounts for the quantum leap in the number obtaining perfect GPA of five. But the dismal feature is that not a single candidate from five hundred and sixty seven schools, madrassas, and vocational training institutions, has come out successful.

The success rate may be attributed to the measures taken by the education boards as well as the schools. All those that took the final exam of the board had to go through a strict training process; and no one, who could not cross the pre-test hurdles was allowed to sit for the exam. One must also recall the education ministry's initiative that helped curb cheating in the exams. All these measures are laudable.

However, while looking at the rate of success, we cannot overlook the stark reality that there are an equal number of unsuccessful candidates, which adds up to the process of accretion of carry-over candidates -- from one year to another. This is a national loss, a waste of money spent and human resource drained out before being properly developed. Basically, the failure of more than fifty percent of the candidates in a major public examination is the mirror-image of a failed system -- asymmetrical urban-rural learning opportunities topped off by poor educational administration and management at the secondary level.

The slight improvement in the results should, instead of making us complacent, drive us into attuning the system in such a way that it averts such high percentage of failure.