02-05-2025
Karnataka SSLC results: Students from Belagavi, Sirsi buck the trend from government schools
Belagavi/Sirsi: Defying stereotypes about govt schools performing poorly in public examinations, two girls — one from Sirsi and the other from Belagavi — have topped the 2025 SSLC examination with 100% scores.
Roopa Chanagouda Patil from Govt High School, Devalapur, in Bailhongal taluk, Belagavi, and
Shagufta Anjum
from Govt Urdu High School, Sirsi, Uttara Kannada, are among the 22 students who secured 625 out of 625.
Shagufta, a resident of Tipu Nagar, Sirsi, is the daughter of Mohammad Manjarul Islam, a cleric at a mosque in Sirsi. Shagufta's mother Saheera Bhanu had migrated to Karnataka from Bihar.
Shagufta, who is now looking forward to pursuing STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) studies, said: "I am proud to secure the top position – thanks to the encouragement and support from our headmaster Anand S Koravar and the SDMC [school development and monitoring committee]. They motivated me throughout."
Shagufta further said: "Hailing from Bihar, I initially struggled to read and write in Kannada. It was only after joining govt Urdu High School in class 8 that I started learning the language and eventually began speaking in Kannada. I will continue with further studies in Karnataka and aspire to excel in science."
Meanwhile, sweets were being distributed at the Chanagouda Patil household and in the neighbourhood in Kabanur of Shiggaon taluk, Haveri district, as news came in of daughter Roopa, who was born in the village, emerging one of the toppers.
Roopa's father Chanagouda, a farmer, and her mother Lata, a homemaker, are proud of their daughter who aspires to be a doctor one day.
"I studied for 5-6 hours daily. My parents provided me with a dedicated space to study. While in school, teachers were a constant source of encouragement, too," an overjoyed Roopa said.
There are four students from Roopa's school who have secured more than 600 in their SSLC exams this time.
"There is ample evidence that govt schools are not inferior in any way. Children put in a lot of hard work, while teachers are always around to guide them. The programmes organised by the zilla panchayat this time to improve SSLC results also made a big impact," said GD Marennavar, principal in charge at the school. He lauded the role played by zilla panchayat CEO Rahul Shinde, who motivated students through a 'talent search exam' this year. As many as 29 of 58 students from the school have passed the exam.
Ashok Chandaragi, the district president of Kannada Sanghatanegala Kriya Samiti (KSKS), congratulated Roopa and added: "She will be felicitated by the Samiti soon. KSKS will also award Rs 5,000 to each student who passed SSLC, studying in the Kannada medium."
