A concerning 9,286 students—35.59% of those who appeared—have failed the II PUC examinations in the Vijayanagara-Ballari district this year, raising alarm bells over the state of pre-university education in the region.
From the 27,048 students registered across Ballari and Vijayanagara districts, 26,093 wrote the exam. Of these, 16,807 passed, while 9,286 did not clear it. In Ballari district alone, 12,799 students appeared and 4,199 failed. Vijayanagara saw 13,294 examinees, out of which 5,087 failed.
Boys Fare Worse Than Girls
Among the 12,446 boys who attempted the exam across both districts, 5,728 (53%) failed, a worrying statistic. In contrast, 13,647 girls appeared, of whom 3,558 didn’t clear.
Arts Stream Sees Highest Failures
Though often advised as an ‘easier option’, the Arts stream reported the highest failure rate this year. Out of 9,493 students who took the Arts exam, 4,242 failed — accounting for over 44%.
Science had 10,090 candidates, and 2,433 failed, with a pass percentage above 70%. In Commerce, 6,510 students appeared, and 2,611 failed.
Underlying Reasons
A severe shortage of permanent teaching staff is a persistent issue in PU colleges across the district. Many institutions reportedly lack full-time lecturers and principals, with guest faculty managing the entire academic load. This imbalance is seen as a key contributor to poor academic outcomes.
Poor attendance and frequent student migration are also critical concerns. In many households, parents migrate for work, leaving children with grandparents, reducing study supervision. Mobile phone addiction and general disinterest in academics are also cited by lecturers.
Another trend is that affluent families are sending their children to reputed institutions outside the district, contributing to a ‘brain drain’ and affecting local performance.
Officials React
Deputy Director of Pre-University Education, Palaksha, acknowledged the faculty shortage. “Out of 400 sanctioned posts, only 200 guest lecturers are handling all duties. Despite this, Ballari has done comparatively well within the Kalyan Karnataka region.”
A meeting with principals has been held following the results, and it has been advised that special classes be arranged immediately to help students prepare for the second attempt. He urged students not to be disheartened and to begin preparations in earnest.
Psychiatrist Dr. Srinivasulu from Ballari added, “Children today are easily distracted. They must approach studies with focus. Teachers must give parents an honest picture of student progress. Offering courses beyond a student’s capability should be avoided. Children should pursue streams they are comfortable with. Failure isn’t final—there are countless opportunities ahead.”