When city topper S. Kaavya entered her school with her parents almost 30 minutes after the results were declared, her friends who were waiting for her gave her a hero’s welcome.
It had been a while since Rosary Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Santhome had produced a topper who scored 1192/1200.
The results this year threw some surprises with many toppers in the city emerging largely from a fresh lot of schools. But even that did not help Chennai — which has the largest number of schools in the state — make it to the top ten districts this year. Though Chennai’s pass percentage rose from 90.4 in 2012 to 91.82 in 2013, it did not match up to districts such as Virudhunagar and Tuticorin.
Last year, Chennai district ranked no. 11; this year it slipped to no. 12.
City results show that only three students have secured a centum in Physics. The highest number of centum were scored in accountancy (386), followed by commerce (312), business mathematics (158) and mathematics (139). No centum was scored in subjects such as botany, zoology and microbiology in the city, according to data provided by the Chennai Chief Educational Officer.
What is heartening, however, is the determination of students to perform against odds, be they poverty or physical disability. Among them are students of Little Flower Convent for Speech and Hearing Impaired who secured a 100 percent pass percentage. Visually impaired student P. Akshaya scored 1123 out of 1200. “We study only theory and I was not sure if I would get high marks. It is easier to score if you have practicals. I did not have that advantage,” says Akshaya, who was born with retinal detachment. She wants to do PhD in music, and is training to become a vocalist and learning to play the violin. She was a topper even in class X.
Re-totalling
A press release from the Directorate of Government Examinations said that marksheets will be available on May 27 at the examination centres. The marksheets of those who applied through tatkal will be posted to their residence. Students can apply for a copy of the answer script between May 10 and 13 at www.dge.tn.nic.in. Students have been asked to apply separately for each subject. The fee to get a copy of the answer script will be Rs. 550 for Language and English and Rs. 275 per subject for other subjects.
The fee for retotalling will be Rs. 305 per paper for Language, English and Biology and Rs. 205 for the other subjects. Once students get a copy of the answer script, they may apply for revaluation which costs Rs. 1010 for Language and English, and Rs. 505 per paper for other subjects. The dates of the special supplementary examination to be held in June-July will be announced soon, the release added.
Over 8,000 forms sold
Engineering aspirants need to fill up engineering applications and submit them at Anna University centres before May 20. Counselling is slated to begin on June 12. This year, for the first time, all engineering admissions will get over by July 31 and classes will begin on August 1. There are in all two lakh engineering seats available in 532 colleges across the State.
Application forms for undergraduate medical and dental courses began to be issued on Thursday. An official at the Directorate of Medical Education said 40,000 application forms had been printed and on the first day 8,421 forms were sold.
