Page 64 - IJPS-11-2

International Journal of
Population Studies Spatial variation in examination performance

Figure 2. Spatial clustering of pass percentage for high school leaving certificate examination 2022 in districts of Assam

16.0
14.0
Gender gap in percentage point 10.0
12.0
8.0
6.0
4.0
2.0
0.0
-2.0
-4.0
-6.0
Baksa Biswanath Cachar Chirang Dhemaji Dibrugarh Goalpara Hailakandi Jorhat Kamrup M Karimgaj Lakhimpur Morigaon Nalbari Sonitpur Tinsukia WKAnglong

Districts
Overall Socially marginalized students
Figure 3. Gender gap measured in pass percentage points of overall and socially marginalized students in high school leaving certificate examination 2022
in Assam
Notes: K Anglong: Karbi Anglong; Kamrup M: Kamrup Metro; Kamrup R: Kamrup Rural; S Salmara: South Salmara; WK Anglong: West Karbi Anglong.

2022, whereas in Dhemaji, as many as about nine out of (15.6% points) favoring males was observed in the South
ten students could do so for the same examination. The Salmara district, whereas the lowest gap (only 0.4%
performance of the socially marginalized students in points) was observed in the Chirang, Baksa, Jorhat, and
21 districts was below the overall pass percentage of the Dima Hasao districts. Six districts (Charaidao, Dhemaji,
state. Interestingly, in the districts where the overall pass Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Dibrugarh, and Majuli) showed
percentage was very high (Sivasagar, Dhemaji, and Dima a negligible (with percentage points ranging from 0.1 to
Hasao), the performance of the socially marginalized 1.1) difference in favor of female students. The Sopher’s
students was found to be very good. index value indicated that both South Salmara and Dhubri
districts demonstrated the highest gender disparity in
3.2. Gender gap the examination performance. It is interesting to note
A striking difference was visible in the pass percentages of that the districts that offer a conducive environment for
HSLC Examination 2022 between males and females in the female students to do well in the examination are a blend
state of Assam (Figure 3). The average difference between of districts with very low and very high pass percentages,
the male and female pass percentages stood at 4.3% indicating that there is no distinguishable pattern to explain
points in favor of male students. A substantial variation examination performance between the two genders from
across the districts was quite apparent. The highest gap the angle of the overall pass percentage.

Volume 11 Issue 2 (2025) 58 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.0886