Mysuru: In a significant marker for educational progress among Scheduled Tribe communities, students from Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) produced exceptional results in II PUC final examinations across Karnataka.Out of 489 students who appeared for the exams, 480 successfully cleared them, clocking an impressive overall pass percentage of 98.2. Notably, 150 students scored above 85% in Science and Commerce streams, while 174 students secured between 75% and 84%, reflecting consistent academic excellence across the cohort. Out of 12 EMRS schools, six have achieved a perfect 100% pass. Officials from the Tribal Welfare Department highlighted that 468 students scored above 60%, marking a substantial improvement over the last academic year, when EMRS schools recorded a pass percentage of around 84. The results are particularly significant given that many students overcame considerable socio-economic challenges to achieve academic success. Science stream topper Usha B K, a student of EMRS Bajjanahalli in Tumakuru, scored 583 out of 600, including a perfect 100 in Physics, alongside near-perfect scores in Mathematics (99), Biology (99) and Chemistry (96). Daughter of a hospital security staff member in Madhugiri, Usha aims to pursue higher education through CET and NEET-UG and aspires to be a civil servant. In the Commerce stream, Rajendra Siddappa Rawal from EMRS Tavaga in Belagavi secured the top position with 583. Hailing from Ramadurga and the son of a private sector employee, he plans to pursue a BCom and qualify as a Chartered Accountant. According to Yogesh T, the director of the Tribal Welfare Department, these results bear testament to sustained efforts to integrate tribal students into mainstream education. “We took over the EMRS institutions from the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society (KREIS) a year ago and have been working rigorously to enhance educational facilities and outcomes,” Yogesh said. He added that a majority of students are now preparing for competitive entrance exams such as CET and NEET-UG. “Our goal is to make EMRS a model for inclusive and quality education, enabling students to pursue their aspirations,” he noted.
