The success rate of intermediate arts, the results of which were declared in Ranchi on Thursday, slumped by 7.17 per cent this year, a change that the Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) attributed to strict evaluation process and pitched for quality (of education) over quantity (of marks).

While the capital region ranked fourth, remote districts emerged as top performers, a trend that was also seen in this year's matriculation and intermediate science and commerce, the results of which were announced on May 20.

A total of 1,85,407 boys and girls took the intermediate arts examinations this time and 1,37,553 cleared them, recording a pass percentage of 74.19 against 81.36 last year. In science, the success rate was a dismal 58.36 per cent compared to 64.57 in 2015; similarly, commerce registered a pass percentage of 62.94 against 74.18 last year.

Among districts, Lohardaga topped the arts charts with 93.88 per cent candidates clearing their intermediate level. Simdega followed close on the heels with 92.65 per cent while Koderma ranked third with 86.57 per cent success rate.

Ranchi was fourth with 86.56 per cent; Hazaribagh ranked fifth with 86.07 per cent; East Singhbhum eighth with 82.99 per cent; Bokaro eleventh with 78.56 per cent; and Dhanbad second from last with 52.51 per cent.

On the gender front, girls did better in arts, notching a success rate of 76.32 per cent against 71.33 per cent of boys.

JAC chairman Arvind Prasad Singh said they had tried to release all results by May, but ceasework by casual employees and para-teachers scuttled their good intentions. "Despite odds, we managed to do a good job, first by releasing matriculation, and intermediate science and commerce results, and now finally arts."

On this year's performance decline, Singh reiterated that a strict evaluation process adopted had helped them examine students better. But, in the same breath, he conceded the skewed student-teacher ratio at plus two level in many schools and colleges.

"One should focus on quality of learning. How will it matter if one scores 100 per cent, but doesn't acquire depth of knowledge in a subject. Marks do matter, but not in the long run. I urge students, who didn't do as good as they expected, to not give up and strive harder in coming days," Singh added.

Mukesh Kumar Sinha, district education officer of East Singhbhum, said they had improved since last year, when the district's success rate in intermediate arts was 71.7 per cent.

Against the 82.99 pass percentage in arts this year, science saw a dismal success rate of 38.30 per cent and commerce 69.45 per cent. Sinha said they were planning on class tests every month in science. "If we work hard and plan well, students will perform much better next year," he added.

Thursday's result function at the JAC office in Namkum was attended by Ranchi University vice chancellor R.K. Pandey as chief guest while Maheshpur MLA Stephen Marandi and Rajmahal MLA Anant Ojha graced the occasion as special guests.