Aizawl: Mizoram’s apex student organisation, Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), on Wednesday urged the state government to review its decision not to declare the top-10 merit list or student ranks in the result books of Classes 10 and 12, a student leader said.
The appeal came a day after the state government announced that it would stop the decades-old practice of indicating the merit list (top-10), distinctions and divisions of students appearing for the Classes 10 and 12 board examinations in the result books at the time of publication of results.
MZP general secretary C. Lalhmingsanga said a meeting of the organisation’s executive committee on Wednesday deliberated at length on the government’s decision and urged it to review and withdraw the move.
The meeting urged the government to continue indicating the merit list of students in the result books to facilitate healthy competition among students and between schools.
Rather than omitting student ranks based on merit, the student body urged the authorities concerned to meticulously review and regulate the examination pattern and question-setting process to impart quality and competency-based learning among students, Lalhmingsanga said.
Earlier on Tuesday, state School Education Minister Vanlalthlana said that the Mizoram Board of School Education (MBSE) will, from this year onwards, follow a new policy for Classes 10 and 12 results. Under this policy, distinctions and divisions will not be awarded, and the top-10 merit list of students will not be indicated in the result books.
The aim is to ensure quality education and prevent students from focusing solely on ranks or high percentages.
MBSE chairman J H Zoremthanga, who accompanied the minister at the press conference, had also said the move was taken with an objective to do away with the traditional practice of rote learning and to ensure quality education through competency-based learning.
He said students from the state lack quality and understanding of their subjects due to the learn-by-heart system, which makes them lag behind others at national competitive exams.
