HSC results

Photo: Prito Reza / Driknews

This year's HSC results have broken all previous records with ease both in terms of pass rate and A+ count. On the face of it, it is a very auspicious sign. But if we dig deep into what has happened, we have good reason to be worried. I think the standard of script evaluation has fallen to an all time low. Never before did so many students get A+ in English. So a proliferation of A+ in English might lead us to believe that the generation next has got over the perennial vulnerability in English. I tell you the situation is far from being like that. The way they have been handed a good grade (in most cases undeserving) would do much harm to them in the long run. If a student who has got A+ in English fails to speak and write the language with minimum of precision, the system that gave him the highest grade will be devalued. It is not to say all students getting A+ are undeserving. Of course, there are some highly deserving candidates. But, I don't think the same thing can be said about the majority of A+ achievers. It is not their fault that they got an A+ gift. Perhaps, some powerful short-sighted high-ups are at fault who like to take credit for virtually everything.