Government flags gaps in states with split boards

NEW DELHI: Centre has recommended that Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Kerala, Manipur, Odisha, Telangana and West Bengal adopt a common board for Class X and XII, citing poor academic outcomes and fragmented governance due to split exam system, reports Manash Gohain.These states accounted for 66% of student failures in 2024, according to an analysis of results across 66 education boards conducted by department of school education and literacy. The split system has different boards to conduct Class X and Class XII exams. Last year, 22.17 lakh students failed Class X and 20.16 lakh failed Class XII. While the numbers have improved over the decade, officials said they remain a significant barrier to better retention and transition to higher education.A major trend noted is that girls are outperforming boys across most boards, especially in science. States like Kerala, Odisha and Manipur, which have integrated board systems, recorded pass rates above 97%, with Kerala at 99.96%.