10+2 enrollments slide as fewer pass SLC exams

BAGLUNG, July 6: When the SLC results were announced a few weeks ago, it became clear that fewer students had passed the exams than in the past years. But the results were disappointing not only for failed students and their family members, but also to scores of educational institutions that run higher secondary classes.

Schools that started higher secondary wing without any fore planning or infrastructure are now facing shortage of students.

Only one student was passed from the Devisthan Higher Secondary School, Devisthan, Baglung, which is now worried about the fate of its higher secondary classes.

The school, from where 52 students had appeared in the SLC exams, had not expected such a poor result.Both the owners and the parents had invested money to establish the higher secondary wing at the school so that the students need not have to travel away from home to get education.

But all their efforts went in vain after just one student passed in the SLC exams.

Bhairav Higher Secondary School, Bhakunde, runs 10+2 classes on education and management. But only four students passed in the SLC exams from the school.

Out of them, two have made up their minds to study in the city.

Nar Bahadur Thapa, a teacher at the school, said, "Now, our only hope is the supplementary examination. If students fail to pass that exam, too, then it will be a huge problem for us."

Similarly, only five students managed to pass SLC from Mahabidhyajan Higher Secondary School of Rayadanda.

Dipendra Bahadur Thapa, head of School Management Committee, said running a high school costs Rs 1 lakh per month. Despite the high cost involved we decided to run higher secondary classes because otherwise the local students would have to walk to 4 to 5 hours to reach nearest high school.

The SLC results were just as disappointing for many other schools. Only four students passed from Shanti School, six from Janaprem School, five from Laxmi School, four from Bhairav School, and six from Dhavi School.

Some of the higher secondary schools are expecting the enrollment to increase after the supplementary exams.

There are 64 higher secondary schools in Baglung.

District Education Office's Section Officer Khem Acharya said, "High schools with fewer SLC pass outs are in serious trouble. Those who grant approval for running higher secondary classes should also be thoughtful," he said.

A total of 4,279 students had appeared in the SLC exams from Baglung's public schools last year. Only 1,501 students made it through.

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