Usually, students eligible to take the Secondary Education Examination (SEE) are aged 14 or above. However, in the mountainous regions, a twelve-year-old student has participated in the SEE examination conducted since Thursday (Chaitra 15, 2080).
Shakti Adhikari, a 12-year-old student from Janasewa Sanskrit Secondary School Center in Ward No. 4 of Paiyun Rural Municipality in Parbat, has appeared for the SEE. She is enrolled at Binu Secondary School, situated in the same rural municipality, specifically in Ward No. 6, Saraikhola.
Uddhimraj Poudel, the chief of the Education Development and Coordination Unit in the district, has highlighted that among the students taking the SEE in the mountainous areas, the youngest candidate is from their district. He explained that previously, before the year 2078 B.S., the age limit for SEE candidates was 15 years. However, with changes in regulations following the Education Act of 2078 B.S., even younger students are now eligible to take the exam.
Khagendra Tiwari, the principal of Binu Secondary School, also noted that students below the usual age range have been studying at their school. He mentioned Shakti Adhikari, who passed the SEE at the age of 12, indicating that she had attended a private school before and started classes from Grade 8 there.
Similarly, another student, the oldest in the district from the same school, has also participated in the SEE exam. Durga Prasad Bhurtel, aged 40 and a regular student of the school, took the exam from Janasewa Sanskrit Secondary School Center.
Bhurtel, who had studied at Paiyun-5 Kamunebhanjyang Secondary School until class 7, was supposed to join Binu Secondary School in class 8. Principal Tiwari mentioned that Bhurtel is a regular student who attends classes regularly, despite dropping out and re-entering school after completing class 7.
According to the Education Development and Coordination Unit, 17 exams have been organized for Parbat. Uddhimaraj Paudel, the head of the office, mentioned that the examination is being conducted peacefully throughout the district and has been observed to be more dignified this year, 2080, compared to previous years.
