Toppers feted : Popular headline : Tapping human resources
- Sangai Express Editorial :: June 11, 2013 -

Toppers felicitated. This one line headline has been a regular feature in all the Imphal based newspapers in the last few days, post the declaration of the results of the Class X and Class XII Board and Council examinations including students of schools affiliated to the CBSE.

Hailing the meritorious and diligent students. Acknowledging their hard works and efforts. Nothing wrong with this and in fact all hard works and efforts ought to be acknowledged.

But if this comes to a case of winners take all, then there arises certain uncomfortable questions. Stretch this line of thought a little bit more then does this mean that those who could not make it to the bracket of the toppers are not winners ?

Again stretch this a little more and does this mean that there should be a category for students who could not make it to the toppers list or those who could not score a perfect 10 in the CPGA grading system ?

More importantly should there be room for students to 'fail' in the Class X and Class XII examinations ?

Given the current system that is in vogue here, there will obviously be no easy answer, but surely it would not hurt to seriously look into some of the hitherto unlooked and unexplored side that the annual rituals known as the final examinations conducted by the BOSEM and COHSEM annually throw up.

Should the examinations be only about taking note of the excellent showings put up by the meritorious students or should it also be a moment for the educationists, the academicians, the teachers and the policy framers of the land to look and study the conditions of the students who stand at the opposite end of the toppers and achievers ?

If the toppers are the winners, are the rest, even those who have been clubbed in the 'failed' category, losers in the strictest sense of the term ?

Recalling school drop outs but who have gone on to make a name for themselves across the globe may not be in line here, for they are exceptions rather than the rule.

This brings us to the question of whether performance at the Class X and Class XII examinations- excellent, average or below average-should be the benchmark of performance or indicators to the latter part of one's life or not.

Let the Government, the NGOs and other civil society organisations acknowledge and take due note of the excellent showing of the toppers, those who have bested the others, but yet at the same time spare a thought for the others who could not make it to the list of the toppers or the excellent performers.

Each topper felicitated should also be the time to give a thought on why the rest have not been able to match up with them.

To be more precise, even as the performance of the bright and diligent students are noted and acknowledged, give some thoughts on why some students had to 'fail' or could not make it to the category of the 'qualified'.

The understanding of education should be taken beyond the ambit of the examination and beyond the performance of the students in the examination, whether at the Class X and Class XII level.

In as much as there are reasons why some students perform consistently well at the examinations, there must be reasons why some students fail to attain even the minimum standards prescribed.

Political leaders and public leaders coming to the fore to honour the meritorious students is fine and falls in line with the understanding of acknowledging the efforts that the students have put in.

Yet at the same time, it is also imperative to study why there are some students who fall into the 'failed' category or just about manage to scrap through.

Results of examinations should not only be about hailing the good show but should also entail giving a deep and serious thought on those who failed to make the grade.

This should be the true essence of the system which is there to tap human resources.