Bhubaneswar, July 19: The school and mass education department has directed all government schools to conduct monthly tests to assess the performance of students.

This decision came three weeks after the announcement of matriculation results, which stood at a disappointing 66.75 per cent, a dip of five per cent from the previous year.

More than 1.36 lakh students failed to clear the examination and 193 schools recorded nil results.

Last year, 43 schools had achieved the dubious distinction of registering nil results.

“Class tests will be held on a monthly basis for all students in Classes I to X to gauge their standard of achievement. Special attention will be given to students who are found to be lagging behind in a particular subject,” Pratap Jena, minister of state school and mass education, said.

Out of nearly 4.76lakh candidates, who had appeared for the annual high school certificate examination this year, around 2.95 lakh students passed in regular, ex-regular and correspondence courses — a pass percentage of 66.75 per cent. A total of 54,666 students secured first division, 68,674 got second position and 1,60,906 got third division marks.

For ex-regular students, the pass percentage was 36.02 per cent. As compared to 439 schools last year, 274 schools registered 100 per cent results.