Even as students waited for the result of the Madhya Pradesh Board to be declared on Monday, the education department announced the names of 283 toppers a day ahead in order to get them felicitated by the chief minister.
Nearly 19 lakh students, who had appeared for the class 10 and 12 exams of the Madhya Pradesh Board, were surprised to find the results declared a day before, at least of the merit-holders, as Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan decided to felicitate toppers on the very day when results are declared. A list of 283 merit-holders has been already released. The district education officer of Vidisha formally announced the toppers of his district.
Around seven lakh students for class 12 and 11 lakh in class 10 have appeared in exams conducted by the Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education (MPBSE). The results in a unique tradition which started few years ago will be declared at the chief minister’s residence.
“Results will be announced at the chief minister house where he will felicitate 283 students who have secured top 10 merit positions in various subjects. 103 students of class 12 have secured the top 10 positions while 180 students from class 10 have also figured in the merit list. These students are from all over the state,” an MP board official said.
Defending the declaration of names of merit-holders a day in advance, an officer of MP Board said “since many toppers are from distant districts and they have to reach Bhopal for felicitation with medals at the hands of chief minister they were informed in advance.”
Student leader and chief of Berozgar Sena, Akshay Hunka raised doubts over the matter and said, “The whole sanctity of exam process has been breached by the chief minister and government. In order to gain a few political brownie points among young people the chief minister and education department leaked the results a day ahead. This is a complete violation of neutrality of exams. This shows that MP Board can be manipulated through political masters.”
Earlier, speaking on a radio program, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan congratulated the students who scored good marks and asked others not to worry about failure. He said that other students need not get disappointed as attaining a degree or passing with good marks did not ensure success. Citing examples of Mahatma Gandhi, former president Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, boxer Mary Kom, cricketer Sachin Tendukar and first President of America, George Washington, he said that despite obtaining less marks in examination, they did great work.
The government has announced that all those students who will secure more than 70 per cent of marks will be entitled to get benefits under Mukhyamantri Medhavi Vidyarthi Yojna. Under this scheme, the entire fee cost of the higher education for such students irrespective of their caste will be borne by the government.
The formal results will be announced today and students can log into the website of MP board (mpbse.nic.in.) to know their results.