𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐕𝐈𝐈𝐈 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭

…𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆, 𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒃𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔

By Lhendup Wangmo

The Bhutan Council for School Examinations and Assessment (BCSEA) has officially released the results of the 2024 Class VIII Common Examinations, revealing a strong academic performance across all subjects and showing a promising trend toward gender parity in education. A total of 12,767 students participated in the exams, with 6,866 boys and 5,901 girls. The results highlight a higher pass percentage among female students, with 94.91% passing, surpassing the 91.66% recorded by male students.

The overall performance of female students was impressive, with girls outperforming boys in most subjects. Dzongkha recorded the highest pass rate at 95.12%, closely followed by English, where girls achieved a pass rate of 94.16%. Science also saw strong results, with 90.74% of students passing. Mathematics had a comparatively lower pass rate of 81.16%, indicating an area for potential improvement, while ICT had the lowest pass rate at 65.98%, highlighting the need for focused interventions in technology education.

The national topper of the 2024 exams, Deki Seldon, expressed that her success was deeply inspired by her sister, Sonam Yangzom, as well as the support of her parents and teachers. Deki shared that her sister’s dedication and hard work motivated her to strive for excellence. “My sister has always looked after me, and her dedication inspired me to work hard,” said Deki. She also credited her parents and teachers for believing in her potential. “Their encouragement pushed me to show them that I could live up to their expectations,” she added.

Deki’s secret to success was effective time management. “I never wasted a moment during my study hours, even on weekends,” she explained. “Staying focused and dedicated was key to my performance.” Deki is determined to maintain her high academic standards and continue striving for excellence.

Dorji Nidup, Principal of Lhuntse High Secondary School, shared insights into the school’s approach to ensuring academic success. “We designed differentiated learning plans for all our students,” said Dorji, highlighting that the school’s strategy catered to both high achievers and students who required extra support. “For high achievers, we provided tougher tasks and encouraged them to solve past exam papers, while for those facing challenges, we provided mentoring, coaching, and extra classes.”

The school also focused on practice and revision, incorporating at least 7 to 11 questions from previous years’ exams in every class. This approach helped familiarize students with the exam format and improve their performance.
Dorji expressed pride in the school’s consistency in ranking among the top three in Class 10 exams and praised the collaborative effort of the school’s staff. “It’s not difficult to be on top when you have a dedicated team,” he said. “We worked together to help Deki and other students achieve their best.”

Deki’s sister, Sonam Yangzom, who is a college student, expressed immense pride in her sister’s achievement. “We are beyond happy,” Sonam said. “Deki stood first out of 12,767 students, and as a family, we’ve always supported her every step of the way.” Living in a remote area presented challenges, but Sonam shared how the family found creative ways to support Deki’s education. “We print her notes since we live far from town and reach out for help whenever necessary,” she explained.

Sonam, who has actively helped Deki with her studies, added that Deki has always been self-motivated and disciplined. “Deki has always been independent, and we never had to push her. She was self-disciplined from a young age,” Sonam said.

Jigme Tsheltrim Kelzang, a 15-year-old student from Bayling Central School, achieved an extraordinary feat by securing second position in the national exams. Reflecting on his success, Jigme admitted that he had not anticipated such a high ranking. “When I first saw the results, I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I wasn’t aiming for second place. I just wanted to pass, and I focused a lot on Dzongkha, as it had always been a weak subject for me.”

While BCSEA officials expressed satisfaction with the overall results, they acknowledged the areas that require improvement, particularly in ICT and Mathematics. The Council is committed to enhancing educational quality across Bhutan and addressing these challenges to ensure a more balanced and robust educational experience for future cohorts.

The 2024 Class VIII Common Examinations saw 12,767 students participate, with many achieving outstanding results. Among these, Jigme Tsheltrim Kelzang from Bayling Central School achieved the prestigious second position in the national rankings, a milestone for both his school and family.

Jigme’s success is a reflection of his relentless determination and the support he has received throughout his academic journey. “I’ve been fortunate to have the support of my family, friends, and some truly amazing teachers. I haven’t faced any major challenges in my learning journey,” Jigme shared, expressing his gratitude.

Reflecting on his past, Jigme also admitted to feeling nostalgic about the friends he had to leave behind. “If I could go back or change anything, I would like to spend more time with my friends. I had to move to another Dzongkhag, so now I can never see them again,” he said with a tinge of sadness.

Jigme’s role models have ranged from his parents and teachers to figures such as His Majesty the 5th King, Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck. “My role model has been His Majesty the 5th King. I remember watching a speech His Majesty gave in Australia, and it really motivated me. It inspired me to do my best in my exams and to think about serving my country in the future,” he shared.

Jigme’s story is one of perseverance, humility, and gratitude. As he moves forward with his academic and personal goals, his vision of contributing to his country remains at the forefront of his aspirations.

Principal Norbu of Bayling Central School expressed immense pride in Jigme’s achievement, noting that it was the first time in the school’s history that such a high national rank had been attained. “We are extremely elated with Jigme’s performance. This is the first time our school has witnessed this level of success,” he said.

The school attributes this accomplishment to the combined efforts of both teachers and students. “To be successful, it requires the combined efforts of both teachers and students. In our case, we have consistently monitored high and low achievers, motivated students by emphasizing the importance of education, and conducted timely academic remedial programs,” Principal Norbu explained. “We also made sure that teachers sacrificed their leisure time to invest in academic enhancement programs.”

The school’s holistic approach emphasizes that success is not only about hard work but also about inspiration. “Both inspiration and perspiration are essential for success,” the Principal concluded.

Jigme’s father, Namsa Dorji, a health worker, was overwhelmed with pride at his son’s achievement. “I wasn’t expecting this at all. We live in a remote area, and despite his consistent academic performance, it came as a pleasant surprise,” he said. “Even his teachers had told us he had the potential, but we never anticipated him reaching this level.”

As a father, Namsa emphasized the importance of giving his son the freedom to make his own decisions. “We don’t impose a specific career path on him. We encourage him to explore his interests and provide guidance, but ultimately, it’s his journey,” he said.

He also expressed concerns about the future. “While we’re happy with Jigme’s success, he’s aware that more challenges lie ahead, especially as he prepares for the Class X and XII examinations. We need to be realistic about the world he is entering,” Namsa reflected.

His message to Jigme was clear: “Whatever path you choose, always strive to be a better human being and live a comfortable life. We’ll support you in whatever you decide to pursue, as long as it makes you happy and fulfilled.”
Thinley Dradul Jamtsho, who secured second place in the national exams, shared his excitement at the unexpected outcome. “I always joked with my friends and teachers about getting a national position, but after analyzing my results, I realized I had a decent chance,” he explained.

Though not surprised by the result, Thinley celebrated his achievement. “It was a great moment. I went on to celebrate with my friends and enjoyed the day,” he said.

Thinley is determined to maintain his academic standing and improve further. “I plan to employ the same strategies but with greater effort and efficiency. My goal is to secure first place in the Class 10 board examinations,” Thinley declared with determination.

In a message of gratitude, Thinley thanked everyone who supported him along the way. “I’d like to thank all my friends, parents, and teachers. My friends helped me become more sociable, my parents never judged me, and my teachers created an environment where I could truly thrive,” he said.

Principal Dorji Tshering of Phuentsholing Rigsar High Secondary School attributed his school’s academic achievements to the dedication of the teachers and the school’s strong mentoring system. “All the credit goes to our teachers,” he said. “We have a very dedicated group of teachers, and our mentoring system ensures that students are closely monitored.”

Dorji Tshering emphasized the school’s commitment to both academic and personal growth. “It’s not just about academic performance, it’s about holistic development. Our mentoring system helps guide students through their academic challenges, while also focusing on their personal growth,” he explained.

Tshering Chezom, who secured third place in the national exams, expressed her pride and happiness at the outcome. “I feel proud and amazing to have made my parents, friends, and teachers happy,” she said. “It’s such a great feeling to know that my hard work has paid off and that I’ve made those who support me proud.”

Tshering credited her success to the support of her family and teachers. “My family and teachers really pushed me to work harder and stay focused. They believed in me, and that motivated me to give my best,” she explained.
Coming from a humble background, Tshering’s motivation is rooted in her desire to make her parents proud. “I come from a simple family, and I really want to make my parents feel proud of me,” she said.

Reflecting on her journey, Tshering highlighted the importance of perseverance. “I worked hard every day, and even though it wasn’t easy, I stayed determined. I believe that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible,” she said confidently.

Principal Ugyen Wangchuk of Jampheling Central School acknowledged the collective efforts of students and teachers in achieving success. “Tshering Chezom worked very hard, and her parents supported her throughout,” he said. “I also consulted her subject teachers, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.”

Principal Wangchuk highlighted the importance of teamwork and collaboration, stating, “In our school, there are no extraordinary strategies. What we have is consistent effort from everyone involved. It’s the collective effort that makes the difference.”

Nima Zangmo, Tshering Chezom’s mother, shared her overwhelming pride and happiness at her daughter’s success. “We may not be educated ourselves, but we have always supported her in every way we can,” Nima explained. “We regularly check in on her studies, ask if she needs any help, and make sure she stays focused.”

Nima’s pride was evident as she reflected on Tshering’s consistent success since primary school. “When we heard she stood third nationally, we remembered how she was always the top student in her primary school. We knew she was capable of doing well,” Nima said.

For Nima and her family, Tshering’s achievement is a source of immense pride, symbolizing hope and inspiration for their community. “This is not just her success; it’s our success as a family,” Nima added.