Kamal Ghorui
Dehradun: A sharp contrast has emerged in Uttarakhand’s state board results over the past several years, with smaller hill districts consistently outperforming the capital, raising questions about how educational resources are being utilised.Dehradun district, often seen as the state’s education hub, recorded the lowest pass percentage in Class 10 and ranked near the bottom in Class 12. Official data showed that the district posted 89.2% in Class 10 — the lowest among all 13 districts — and stood 12th in Class 12 with 83.6%.The trend has fluctuated over the past few years. In 2023, the capital ranked 10th in Class 10 with a pass percentage of 83.7% and 11th in Class 12 with 78.4%. In 2024, it slipped to 12th position in Class 10 at 85.8% while remaining 11th in Class 12 at 80%. Last year, the district improved to ninth position in Class 10 with 91.2%, but this year it dropped to the bottom of the table. In Class 12, the district fell to 12th position this year, although the pass percentage rose from around 81.8% last year to 83.6%.Despite some improvement in pass percentages, the district’s ranking in the state has remained low.“Being the capital, Dehradun has the maximum resources in the state. We have the best technical support and still perform poorly, largely due to the high volume of students, including many from outside Uttarakhand. But the issue is also one of intent. Teachers are tasked with more administrative work than teaching, and students are often engaged in activities linked to VIP programmes, which affects academic focus,” said a senior teacher with education department, requesting anonymity.To address the issue, education department launched Project Lakshya in late 2024. The initiative provides solved sample papers, topper answer sheets and subject-specific lecture videos for students in govt schools. However, its impact is yet to be reflected in the results.Dehradun chief education officer Vinod Kumar Dhaundiyal said the initiative had not yielded the expected outcomes so far. “We will soon hold a review meeting and come up with a plan to improve results. Schools with poor performance will face action,” he told TOI.In contrast, Bageshwar emerged as one of the strongest performers this year, recording 96.9% in Class 10 and 94.81% in Class 12, while also producing a joint state topper.Geetika Pant from Bageshwar was among the joint state toppers in Class 12, scoring 490 marks, along with Susheela Mehndirettaa from Udham Singh Nagar. Khushi Kandpal and Diksha Kandpal also secured positions among the top rankers. In Class 10, Yogesh Joshi secured the third rank in the state with 97.80%.The district’s performance has remained consistently strong over the years. In 2024-25, Bageshwar recorded 96.37% in Class 10 and 90.42% in Class 12, securing second position in the state. In 2023-24, it posted 95.42% in Class 10 and 93% in Class 12, topping the state rankings.Chief education officer Vinay Kumar attributed the results to students’ efforts and parental support. “There is no dearth of talent in the hills. With proper guidance and opportunity, students here can achieve excellence,” he said.District magistrate Akanksha Konde said the performance reflected coordinated efforts at multiple levels. “Students’ hard work, parents’ sacrifices and teachers’ dedication have all contributed. Administration also ensured that officials visited schools to motivate students ahead of exams, which had a positive impact,” she said.Students from remote and resource-constrained schools also featured in the state merit list. In Class 12, apart from Geetika Pant and Khushi Kandpal who secured fifth rank, Diksha Kandpal and Rohit Singh Mehta secured 14th rank, and Vivek Singh Dev secured 17th rank. In Class 10, Yogesh Joshi secured third rank and was followed by Nancy Nagarkoti in 10th place, Lokesh Singh Negi in 14th, Tamanna Aithani in 22nd and Sakshi Mehta in 23rd.Retired principal Bhagwat Singh said the results challenge long-held perceptions about education in hill districts. “The notion that the hills lack quality teachers and capable students has long driven migration to the plains. But districts like Bageshwar show that, despite limited resources, students can perform at par with the best,” he said.Education experts said the results show that geography is not a barrier to achievement, with students in remote districts demonstrating that determination and discipline can overcome limitations.The contrast between resource-rich Dehradun and smaller districts like Bageshwar has raised questions about whether educational infrastructure in the state capital is being used effectively, officials said.
