Class X students have been consistently under-performing in Mathematics and Science subjects in the last three years, reveals statistics from Bhutan Council for School Examinations and Assessment (BCSEA).
Their performance in 2014 is the worst since 2011, a release from BCSEA says.
In 2014, 731 students of the 11,655 failed the Bhutan Certificate of Secondary Education. Mathematics and Science had the lowest pass percentage with 69.92 percent and 74.65 percent.
A Class X student of Yangchenphug Higher Secondary School, Tshering Penjor said he just cannot get Mathematics despite giving his best.
“I dislike Mathematics,” said Pema Wangmo from Babesa Middle Secondary School.
A kind of mathematical-phobia has set in amongst the students, according to a math teacher and Principal of Pelkhil Higher Secondary School, Umesh Kumar. He said the fear of mathematics plays a bigger role than the subject itself. “Students rather than trying, they just give up,” he said.
Umesh Kumar said many students choose to give up mathematics and opt for other subjects. A student’s score is class X is determined by English plus best four.
He said it is a teacher’s responsibility to help students overcome the phobia.
The Secretary of Examination, Kinga Dakpa said there could have been various reasons which could have resulted in the poor performance of students in Science and Mathematics.
“Firstly, it depends on the cohort. In some years, you have good cohorts who are good in mathematics and science and in some years we have poor performing cohorts in the subjects.”
He said the performance also depends on schools and teachers on how well they can prepare their students. “Some schools suffer from inadequate number teachers in certain subjects.”
Students performed well in Computer Application followed by English, Dzongkha, History and Civics and Geography.
