Students of DAV Public School, Bistupur, rejoice after their Class X results were declared on Friday. (Bhola Prasad)

Jamshedpur, June 10: The intermediate results of Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) in Kolhan region came as a grim reminder of the academic state in its three districts.

It also came as no surprise that Jamshedpur cradles proved they were the brightest of the lot.

Students of East and West Singhbhum as well as Seraikela-Kharsawan, disappointed with a pass rate dipping below 50 per cent across arts, science and commerce streams, and plunging to 8.99 per cent in science in West Singhbhum.

No topper broke the 80 per cent glass ceiling. Overall, girls managed an edge over boys, but West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan boys did better in science.

The pass percentage of East Singhbhum in science was 31.37 per cent compared to 56.7 per cent in commerce and 51.2 per cent in arts. Seraikela-Kharsawan’s pass percentage for science was 34.30 per cent while 48.56 per cent in commerce and 44.35 per cent in arts.

West Singhbhum has fared worst in science with just 8.99 per cent students managing to pass, the worst in recent memory. About 45.24 per cent students of West Singhbhum passed in arts while the number dipped to 33.33 per cent in arts.

Two toppers from Jamshedpur were girls. Pummy Priya of BPM High School, Burmamines aced in arts stream with 350 out of 500. Puja Jangid of Jamshedpur Women’s College topped in commerce with 372 marks.

Saikat Bhattacharya of Asanboni College topped in science with 389, missing the 80 per cent benchmark in a traditionally high-scoring stream.

In science, Kumari Deepika of Mrs KMPM Inter College, Bistupur, came second with 388. Prakash Kumar of Karim City College was a distant third with 377.

Commerce, considered to be a bastion of the boys, was finally conquered by girls. Just two marks behind topper Puja was her namesake of Shyama Prasad Inter College, Jamshedpur, Puja Paul with 370. Neha Chand of Jamshedpur Women’s College bagged the third position in Kolhan with 363 marks.

Arts remained the traditional stronghold of girls. After Pummy’s 350, Shagufta Perween from Central Karimia High School scored 347 and Reena Hans of Kolhan Inter College with 344.

Poor performances have earned the wrath of academics.

“True, there is a dearth of teachers as faculty members of undergraduate colleges are banned from teaching at intermediate level. But students too have a lackadaisical attitude. They skip classes a lot,” said A.M.H. Ansari, principal of Tata College in Chaibasa.

Principal of Graduate School College for Women Shakuntala Pathak blamed it squarely on students. “Students are not serious about their studies. They find shortcuts to pass examinations and get their degrees. They fail to understand that hard work will earn them success,” said Pathak.