Ranchi, June 3: Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV), the brainchild of late Rajiv Gandhi, is gradually approaching its target of 100 per cent pass percentage in all its schools across the state.

Around 90 per cent of the Navodaya students passed the CBSE Class X exams this year. Of them, 40 per cent got distinctions (those who score above 75 per cent marks get distinction).

Principal of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Ranchi, P.S. Bara is happier.

Over 98 per cent of their students have passed this year. “Of 81 students who appeared in the Class X board exams, our total class average was 98.7 per cent this year,” Bara added.

Topper of their school Santu Rakshit scored 94 per cent compared to last year’s 92 per cent.

However, Bara pointed out that one of their students got 23 per cent in English.

“We have sent the paper for re-checking and hopefully the boy will get his due. But we are happy that our results are constantly improving. In 2004 it was 83 per cent and in 2008 we have achieved 98.7 per cent,” Bara added.

M.N. Banerjee, the principal of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Godda, said that their pass percentage of Class 10 students was 92.7 per cent.

“There were 74 students who appeared in the examination and 49 got distinctions. Most of them are from villages and we had cent per cent results,” he said.

He added that most of the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas have secured cent percent results. “In fact, all over India, our pass percentage is quite high. The reason for this is quality teaching and remedial classes. Since it is a residential school, we try to keep students under strict discipline — be it academics or sports,” he said.

On comparisons, the principal said: “Our students are scoring better and are also active in sports. They should not be compared with students studying in big public schools.”

At Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Bokaro, 80 students appeared in the matric exam while 70 students secured first class. The topper, Rajan Kumar, bagged 90.8 per cent.

Results have been constantly improving since the past five years.

“This year our class average result was 98 per cent compared to 91 per cent in 2004,” said principal of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Bokaro, D.K. Modi.

He added that this year they have achieved cent per cent results compared to last year’s 98.

“This year we also observed that average students scored good marks in mathematics, English and Hindi while the marks of toppers went down,” he added.

According to the school samiti policy, 75 per cent seats are reserved for students of a rural background.

“We try to improve the quality of students by grooming them. And they give us promising results. It’s a great achievement for us,” said Modi. However, he rued that in social science, the class average came down to 62 per cent from 80 per cent.

“It seems that social science evaluation was not correct. We have asked for recounting,” said the principal.

“The pass percentage in Patna is 97.75 per cent, while in Jharkhand the pass percentage is 97.78 per cent. In Bengal, it is 99.4 per cent. In the last five years, Navodaya has held the first position in the country,” Modi added.