DSEL launches ‘Mission 60+’ to improve SSLC, II PUC results this year

‘Mission 60+’ comes a year after the Department of School Education and Literacy introduced the ‘Mission 40+’ programme last year.

With an aim to improve results in SSLC and II PUC examinations, the Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL) has launched a new programme ‘Mission 60+’ for the year 2026–27. The programme aims to prepare every student to score more than 60% marks and achieve a 100% pass rate in schools and colleges.

Minister for School Education and Literacy Madhu Bangarappa recently launched the programme at a teachers’ workshop at IIT Dharwad. ‘Mission 60+’ comes a year after the department introduced the ‘Mission 40+’ programme last year.

“Karnataka recorded a pass percentage of 98.08% in the SSLC examinations and 92.25% in the II PUC examinations last academic year. These are the highest results ever recorded by the State,” pointed out Madhu Banagrappa, appealing to teachers and officials to extend their wholehearted cooperation and make the ‘Mission 60+’ programme a success. “There is still sufficient time and if all of us work together, we can achieve 100% results this year,” he said.

Recalling the special efforts made by teachers behind last year’s impressive results, the Minister said that several parents had shared with him that their children had performed well because they had regularly practised solving model question papers. Students had also expressed similar views, he said. He urged teachers to thoroughly review previous years’ question papers and give greater importance to practising model question papers.

The Minister said that the Union Government was also adopting the model of the two-examination system introduced in the State. “Students are now being given two opportunities to appear for the SSLC examinations. This system was introduced to ensure that students do not have to wait another year simply because they failed in one attempt. No child should be left behind in education due to a lack of opportunities,” he said.

Cheating in examinations may help students score marks temporarily, but it cannot help them build their future. It is for this reason that Karnataka became the first state in the country to introduce webcasting to prevent examination malpractice, he said.

“It is a matter of serious concern that nearly 60,000 children did not appear for the examinations last year. Personal and family-related problems faced by children could have been responsible,” he said, adding efforts need to be made to ensure these children write their exams.

He recalled an incident from his own district, Shivamogga, where a student’s parent passed away on the day of the examination. “The very next day, officials made arrangements for the child to appear for the examination. That student later secured a rank. Such incidents highlight the importance of providing children with opportunities at the right time. We must ensure that no child is deprived of the opportunity to write an examination for any reason,” he said.