State Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who held the same portfolio in the erstwhile Congress government, told the Assembly about the manipulation by the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA).
"Yesterday, the SEBA chairman told me that this year 22 per cent of the total students who appeared in matriculation exam have passed. He said - so how much should we make it? Should it be 62 per cent or more? I was completely shocked."
This happened during his earlier tenure too, he said.
The minister said a meeting of SEBA always takes place before the declaration of results and a resolution is adopted during it to hike the pass percentage every year in consultation with the government of that particular time.
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"Usually when a student does not pass by a small margin, we give him/her grace mark and it is shown in the mark sheet. But this (manipulation) is hidden grace mark. It is done after the copies are checked and scrutiny is done," he said.
"This is a serious matter. That is why I have discussed this in the House to inform the public. If only 20-25 per cent students are actually passing, then where is the society heading? There must be some problem in the system, or teachers, or government, or society as a whole," he said.
The education minister said that this time it will be discussed in the cabinet to take a decision and requested Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami to form a House committee to examine the matter.