Testing times for Nepalese students

It’s that time of the year again in Nepal when nearly half a million students appear for their school leaving certificate (SLC) exam — also known as the Iron Gate for its level of difficulty. Utpal Parashar reports.

Updated on: Mar 19, 2013, 24:39:32 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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It’s that time of the year again in Nepal when nearly half a million students appear for their school leaving certificate (SLC) exam — also known as the Iron Gate for its level of difficulty.

And all means adopted to clear the hurdle seem fair to students and their family members. Be it fake examinees, bogus invigilators, use of minors and even deals to help examinees cheat.

Low pass percentage is one reason why students and parents resort to desperate measures. Last year only 47% managed to clear the exam — 8% less than the 2011 figure.

Hence cases of parents denied the chance to pass sheets containing answers to their children inside exam centres attacking government officials and policemen on duty are not uncommon.

This year authorities in Mahottari district have detected a “simple and safe” method used by parents—use of minors to pass copying material to examinees by paying them fifty rupees daily.

“This is a new trend. Use of children for such tasks is not just illegal but also violates their rights,” ‘Kantipur’ daily quoted Pawan Kumar Kharel, a local police officer.

In Sunsari a principal reportedly made a deal with the exam superintendent not to allow frisking of students before they entered the centre as it could have a negative impact on the examinees.

Cheating is so rampant and brazen that even presence of journalists does not not deter the parents and the examinees.

On Monday, four journalists were manhandled by a police personnel when they tried to take photos of him carrying copying material out of an exam centre.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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