Simultala / Patna : Simultala Residential School, once renowned as Bihar’s ‘toppers’ factory,’ is facing a steady decline, with no student securing a place in the top three of the state’s matriculation exams this year. Despite efforts by the state government to revive its past glory, the institution continues to struggle to produce the stellar results that once defined its reputation.
Established in 2010 as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s ‘dream project,’ Simultala Residential School was designed to nurture Bihar’s brightest minds, modelled on the gurukul system. However, its performance has deteriorated year after year. While 30 students from the school secured a place in the top ten in 2015, the numbers have plummeted since. Only 6 students made it to the top ten in 2020, and in 2024, none managed to break into the top five or ten.
Students Blame Evaluation System
Students at Simultala, while acknowledging the hard work put in by both themselves and their teachers, point to flaws in the evaluation process as a key reason for the decline. Many of the students take their exams in English, yet their answer sheets are assessed by teachers from Hindi-medium backgrounds.
“We are all working hard, and our teachers teach us well,” said a student from Simultala. “But when the copies written in English are checked by Hindi-medium teachers, we don’t get the marks we deserve. We believe that if the Bihar Board uploads the answer sheets of toppers online, it will help us understand where we are falling short.”
Principal Highlights Need for Fair Evaluation
Sunil Kumar, the principal of Simultala Residential School, echoed the concerns of the students. “Our school follows an English-medium curriculum, but the evaluation is done by Hindi-medium teachers. This is a serious concern. Answer sheets written in English should be evaluated by English-medium teachers to ensure accurate marking.”
He emphasised that while students continue to prepare diligently, the mismatch between the medium of instruction and the evaluation process is taking a toll on their results. “Correct evaluation is essential for maintaining academic standards. Without this, the hard work of our students goes unrecognised,” he added.
Government’s Efforts to Revive Simultala
In a bid to address the decline, the Bihar government had deputed 22 teachers selected through the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) to Simultala to bridge the gap in faculty resources. Admissions to the school remain highly competitive, with only the brightest students making the cut. Yet, despite these measures, the school’s performance has failed to improve.
