Chennai: The Tamil Nadu secondary school leaving certificate (SSLC) exam and Higher Secondary Certificate Examination (Plus One) registered a pass percentage of 93.8 per cent and 92.09 per cent, as per the results announced on Friday by the Directorate of Government Examination.

Compared to the previous year, the Class X (SSLC) exam pass percentage was 2.55 per cent more this year while the Plus One (11th standard) registered a 0.4 per cent increase.

"This reflects the efforts and guidance provided by our Chief Minister M K Stalin. He is our headmaster," Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi said.

He said a preliminary enquiry was on to ascertain how 167 students who appeared from an examination centre managed to score centum in Chemistry.

“Appropriate action would be taken based on the enquiry by the education department officials,” he said.

In case it was found that the teacher handling the subject was able to achieve the spectacular result through coaching, then this practice would be adopted as a model for all schools, the Minister said when reporters asked how it was possible for so many candidates from one centre to score a centum in one subject.

Congratulating the students who passed the SSLC and HSC exams, Chief Minister Stalin called upon the successful Class 10 students to choose the subjects necessary for their higher studies.

Those who have passed Plus One should aim to get higher marks in Plus Two.

“Those who could not pass the exams should not be discouraged. Take advantage of the subsequent exams and clear them. Hold on to education and move forward,” the Chief Minister appealed.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami too congratulated the students who emerged victorious in the exams and urged them to strive hard to achieve their goals in life.

“Those who missed out remember failure is transient. Make efforts to succeed and move forward,” Palaniswami urged.

Poyyamozhi thanked the CM and the teachers for the increase in pass percentage and added that "the reason is because of the awareness on the state government schemes that encouraged school and higher education in the state."

A total of 8,71,239 students appeared in the Tenth standard public examination held in March and of them 8,17,261 passed.

A total of 4.17 lakh girls (out of 4.35 lakh who appeared in the exam) successfully cleared the exam registering a pass percentage of 95.88 per cent, while 4 lakh boys (out of 4.36 lakh) passed, registering 91.74 per cent.

Sivaganga (98.31 per cent), Virudhunagar (97.45), Thoothukudi (96.76), Kanyakumari (96.66) and Tiruchirappalli (with 96.61 per cent) were top five districts vis-a-vis the pass percentage in the state.

Of the 8.07 lakh students (including 3.82 lakh boys and 4.24 lakh girls) who appeared in the Plus One exam, 7.43 lakh students (including 3.39 lakh boys and 4.03 lakh girls) successfully cleared the exam.

Ariyalur (97.76 per cent), Erode (96.97), Virudhunagar (96.23 ), Coimbatore (95.77), and Thoothukudi (95.07) emerged as districts that accounted for the highest pass percentage.