Bhubaneswar: Higher secondary schools across the state wore a colourful look with freshers in bright, new uniforms with the Plus Two courses beginning on Tuesday.

While some new students were seen looking for their classrooms, others were seen huddling around the college notice boards to find their sections and class timetable.

Campuses were abuzz with excited youngsters while tinge of nervousness was also palpable. But for most newcomers, the first day was smooth sailing.

Suranjana Jena, a new student at BJB (Junior) College here, shared her first-day experience. "I reached college early today so that I wouldn't have any trouble finding my classroom. I also visited the library and went around the campus," she said.

Sixteen-year-old Anuj Mohanty who has completed his matriculation from a CBSE school here said he was a bit worried. He said: "I might face some problems since the CHSE course is a little more difficult than CBSE. I was also nervous about being ragged by seniors but, thankfully, nothing of that sort happened."

Parents were also seen guiding their children on the campus. Senior students were seen interacting with the freshers. The teachers and college principal explained to them the course pattern and other college rules. They were also seen giving a brief lecture about the procedure to lodge complaints in case of ragging by seniors.

The results of Plus Two instant examinations, conducted by the Council of Higher Secondary Education, were announced on Tuesday.

Of the total 581 students who took the exam, 488 passed.

As many as 5,90,363 students had appeared the High School Certificate Examinations at 2,818 centres between February 23 and March 8. The results were announced on May 7. Till now, around 3,16,198 students have taken admission. Data of the students who took admission in spot selection on Tuesday will be updated on Wednesday.