National 3 (Spotlight Weekly)

A Test of Education

For the first time in three years, students appear for the SLC examination without fear or disturbance

By KESHAB POUDEL

Unlike the last two batches of SLC examinees, students this time were lucky: they did not have to worry about whether the tests would take place or not. Thanks to the cease-fire announced by the government and the Maoists, and the patience shown by other political parties, the SLC examination passed off peacefully.

Students : No disurbance this year

"We have not seen any threat or pressure from the students. The last two years were really difficult for students, especially with the uncertainty about the examination schedule," said a senior official at the Ministry of Education. "The quality of the examination was much better than last year, since there was adequate security and question papers were sent out without any difficulties."

Two years ago, the CPN-UML had called a three-day Nepal bandh (general strike) on the eve of the SLC examination and many students appeared in the exam hall amid fear and stress. A year ago, the student wing of the Maoist party issued a call to boycott the SLC. The party even cut off electricity lines and drinking water pipes in the some district headquarters.

"Unlike previous years, we found adequate time to prepare for the examinations and the classes went on smoothly. Despite some difficulties in the early sent-up examination, the SLC was problem free," Ganga Thapa, a student of Jorpati high school.

Teachers were equally pleased with this turn of events. "I am happy that all the student unions seem to have realized the importance of education and the future of the students," said Hitbir Singh Kansakar, headmaster of Paropakar Adarsha Madhyamik Vidyalaya. "Education institutions must not be used as a place for political vendetta."

According to the SLC Examination Control Board (ECB), some 270,000 students were eligible to appear in the examination from 852 centers. The board appointed 852 superintendents, 13,641 observers, and 8,520 security personnel in different parts of the country. More than 5,000 peons were also employed to conduct the examination smoothly.

"We are happy that the first day of examinations passed peacefully and without any hindrance," said Dr. Sahadev Bhatta, controller of SLC ECB. "We did not have to take any disciplinary action on the first day."

In the three districts of the capital valley, 50 centers were set up for 17,000 students, with Kathmandu district having largest number of centers. Known as the iron gate, the SLC examination is regarded as the basic education to enter any profession or institution of the higher education.

In terms of results, however, the percentage of pass students is always below 50 percent and more than one third of the students have to abandon their wish to go for higher education. "We must improve our results. Otherwise, the country will have to drain its resources. Failing to achieve the target of at least 50 percent of the students will make the SLC redundant," said an education expert. "The time has come for policy makers to make the examination transparent and successful."

As there is wide gap in the quality between public and private schools, the state must also introduce more effective ways to improve the quality of education in government-run schools. Instead of keeping the SLC examination as an iron gate, the country must turn it into a real test of school education.