Guwahati : The Assam State School Education Board (ASSEB), Division-II, on Tuesday declared the results of the Higher Secondary (HS) Final Examination 2026, with the Science stream recording the highest pass percentage of 89.79% and girls outperforming boys across all streams.

Out of 3,30,798 candidates who applied, 3,22,725 students appeared for the examination, while 190 were expelled. The results for Arts, Science, Commerce, and Vocational streams were released digitally via the official gazette and online platforms.

Science stream led the performance chart with an 89.79% pass rate, followed by Commerce at 81.13%, Arts at 79.54%, and Vocational at 74.19%. The overall results remained largely consistent with previous years, reflecting stable academic outcomes across the state.

Female candidates continued to dominate across streams. In Science, girls achieved a pass percentage of 90.80%, compared to 89% among boys. In Arts, girls recorded 81.96% against 76.10% for boys, while in Commerce, female candidates secured 82.67%, ahead of 80.45% for male students.

In terms of absolute numbers, 1,39,424 girls passed the examination, significantly higher than 1,17,731 boys, underscoring the sustained trend of stronger academic performance among female students.

District-wise results highlighted stark variations. In the Arts stream, Darrang (92.99%), Baksa (94.29%), and Lakhimpur (90.35%) emerged as top performers, while Cachar recorded a comparatively low pass percentage of 59.83%. In Commerce, Majuli and South Salmara achieved a perfect 100% pass rate, whereas Dhubri registered the lowest at 68.23%.

In the Science stream, Tamulpur topped with 98.39%, closely followed by West Karbi Anglong (98.36%) and Baksa (97.96%). Dhemaji posted the lowest pass percentage in this stream at 70.03%.

Vocational education results reflected sharp disparities, with Biswanath, Majuli, and Sivasagar achieving 100% pass rates, while Sribhumi lagged significantly at 9.09%, pointing to uneven outcomes in skill-based education.

ASSEB Chairman R.C. Jain expressed concern over consistently underperforming institutions, stating that over 100 schools have been identified for poor results over the past three years. “The list has been shared with the Assam government and the Directorate of Secondary Education. Corrective measures, including possible amalgamation, are expected,” he said.

The Board also announced a series of academic reforms aimed at improving evaluation standards and clarity. Students will now be required to secure a minimum of 33% in all subjects. Additionally, six subjects have been made compulsory, replacing the earlier flexibility of appearing in fewer subjects.

Skill-based subjects will carry separate certification, irrespective of whether a student passes or fails. “This will ensure recognition of practical competencies even if a student does not clear the examination,” Jain said.

Post-result procedures have also been streamlined. The portal for rechecking and accessing scanned answer scripts will open within two to three days, with applications to be submitted online. The Class 12 readmission portal will be available within a week.

Students who fail in a single subject will be allowed to reappear the following year as regular candidates without requiring readmission. They will also have the option to appear for additional subjects under a special examination provision.

Digital marksheets can be accessed through official websites and the ‘UPOLOBDHA’ mobile application, while e-migration certificates will also be issued online. Physical copies of marksheets will be distributed later as per Board notification.

 The Assam State School Education Board (ASSEB) on Tuesday announced a sweeping set of reforms aimed at overhauling the state’s school education system, including strict action against underperforming institutions, shortly after declaring the Higher Secondary (HS) examination results.

Addressing a press conference, ASSEB Chairman R.C. Jain said the Board is considering de-affiliation of 49 schools that have shown consistently poor academic performance over the years. He added that the current format of vocational examinations will be discontinued after this year, signalling a transition to a revised framework for skill-based education.

As part of immediate post-result measures, the Board stated that the rechecking process for answer scripts will begin within the next two days, enabling students to apply online for verification.

In a significant policy shift, ASSEB announced that students failing in more than two subjects will no longer be eligible for compartmental examinations and will have to seek fresh admission. However, those who pass individual subjects will be awarded skill certificates, reflecting a broader push to integrate vocational competencies into mainstream education.

Aligning its evaluation criteria with national standards followed by the Central Board of Secondary Education, ASSEB has made it mandatory for students to secure a minimum of 33 per cent marks in each subject to pass. The re-admission portal for unsuccessful candidates is expected to open within two weeks.

Highlighting institutional performance concerns, the Board revealed that 102 government schools and 207 private schools recorded unsatisfactory results in the HSLC examinations, prompting stricter monitoring and corrective measures.

Looking ahead, ASSEB announced structural changes to be implemented from 2027, under which the higher secondary system will be streamlined into three core streams-Arts, Science, and Commerce. Subjects will be reorganised into three groups, with Arts students required to opt for at least one skill-based subject from Group C, making vocational education partly mandatory.

Additionally, General Studies will be introduced as a compulsory subject across all streams, in a move aimed at broadening students’ academic exposure.

The Board has urged schools to implement the revised guidelines effectively and ensure compliance with the new academic standards.

In a cultural initiative, ASSEB also announced that quotes from late Assamese music icon Zubeen Garg will be incorporated into the academic calendar, blending regional cultural elements with the state’s education framework.