Jharkhand Academic Council’s matriculation results, out on Thursday afternoon, gave plenty to cheer about with a new record set by this year’s state topper at 99.2 per cent and a way better overall pass percentage at 70.77, a big improvement from last year’s dismal 59.48.

Priya Raj from Indira Gandhi Balika High School, Hazaribagh, scored a blazing 496 marks out of 500 (99.2 per cent), setting the new benchmark for JAC matric toppers. Closely tailing her were three boys from Residential High School, Netarhat, Amresh Kumar with 495 marks, and Aman Kumar and Gopal Singh tying at third spot with 492 marks.

A total of 4,38,256 students had appeared for the matric state board this year out of which 3,10,158 cleared the exams. Unlike national boards such as CBSE and CISCE, boys fared better in the state board with 72.99 per cent of them succeeding in the exam compared to 68.67 per cent of girl examinees.

The number of students with first division also increased this year. About 1,66,916 students got first division, compared to a lakh last year.

This year, 1,25,883 students got second division and 16,389 students got third division.

Students of Ursuline Convent Girls’ High School flash victory signs in Ranchi on Thursday. (Prashant Mitra)

JAC chairman Arvind Prasad Singh sounded pleased at the results. “There’s a huge qualitative improvement in matric results this year. More students have got first division, the state topper has broken all past records,” he said.

Among the districts, rebel-hit Palamau notched up the highest pass percentage at 79.74, followed by Giridih at 79.17, Hazaribagh at 77.54, East Singhbhum at 77.25 per cent and Khunti at 76.43.

Ranchi district ranked sixth with a pass percentage of 76.42 per cent, Dhanbad was at eighth position (72.79 per cent) and Bokaro at 68.77.

The worst performing district was Jamtara with a pass percentage of 52.54.

Contacted, East Singhbhum district education officer Shivendra Kumar gave the credit to teachers and students for their hard work. “We are facing acute teacher crisis but those who are present have worked very, very hard with students. The results are there for all to see. I won’t say I am very happy at our district’s performance as we expected to be in the top three. Next year, with more teachers, we will try to be at the top. We will also analyse the results,” he said.