Ahmedabad: When it comes to board exams, subjects like Mathematics and English are often seen as the toughest hurdles. But for many students here, even their mother tongue, Gujarati, has been a stumbling block. In 2019, 36% (2.35 lakh) of 7.29 lakh Class 10 students who chose Gujarati as their first language failed the exam. Five years later, the failure rate has plummeted to 9% of 5.9 lakh, signalling a steady improvement in performance.
Data from the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) shows that over the years, the passing percentage for Gujarati hovered between 81% and 84%, before reaching a new high this year. Experts say the improved pass percentage should be seen in the context of overall strong results recorded in 2024, with students performing better across subjects.
“Many students assume that just because they speak Gujarati fluently, the language paper will be easy. However, there is a significant difference between conversational Gujarati and the structured language components like grammar, essay writing and interpretation of literary works that is tested in the board exams,” explained the principal of a Gujarati-medium school in the city.