As many as 331 schools across the country have produced nil result in the School Leaving Certificate examinations, debunking government´s claim of having done enough to improve the quality of education.

According to the Office of the Controller of Examination (OCE), a total of 9,187 schools, including 6,045 community and 3,142 private schools, participated in the SLC exams. Panchthar district fared the worst with 23 schools in the district producing nil result, while 17 schools in Accham failed to produce even a single SLC graduate.

Similarly, Bhojpur, Ilam, Morang, Saptari, Udaypur, Khotang, Taplejung, Okhaldhunga, Tehrathum, Sunsari and Doti produced the worst results with pass percentage below the national average, the OCE has stated.

“None of the schools in Mustang produced nil result,” Exam Controller Bishnu Bahadur Dware told Republica.

Shockingly, 11 schools in Kathmandu Valley have produced nil result in SLC. Of them, five schools are from Kathmandu, four from Bhaktapur and two from Lalitpur district.

Exam Controller Dware said there was every possibility that some of the schools with nil result could very well be private ones. OCE is yet to classify the results.

Most of those who failed flunked in Mathematics, English, Science and Social Studies. While a total of 221,497 examinees in the regular category failed the exams, 77 percent of them flunked in mathematics, 74 percent in English and 72 percent in science. Similarly, 50 percent of them could not secure the minimum 32 marks to pass in social studies.

Educationists have blamed the method of teaching and lack of enough experienced teachers for the poor results. Currently, 60,000 posts for teachers are vacant in schools across the country. They also stressed that the government needs to hire qualified and experienced teachers in public schools to improve the quality of education.

“Without further delay, the government should pension off the old teachers to make way for qualified and experienced teachers,” said educationist Basudev Kafle. He added that the lack of dedication among teachers toward their profession has made matters worse in community schools. He said the government should introduce attractive pay packages to encourage qualified youths to join the teaching profession.

´Teachers of schools with nil result will face action´
The Department of Education (DoE) has issued a circular to the district education offices asking them to seek clarification from all 331 schools with nil result, said DoE Director General Lav Dev Awasthi.

He added that the department would carry out investigation to find why the schools fared badly.

In addition, DoE is ready to open the debate on school reform and replace the old with qualified and experienced teachers, Awasthi told Republica.

“We acknowledge our failure and are now ready to transfer teachers so as to ensure that they do not misuse the privilege of being a local resident,” said Awasthi.

SLC 2014
Total appeared- 394,933
Total passed- 173,436 (43.92 %)
Total failed- 221,497 (56 %)

source:NIRJANA SHARMA, republica, 15 june 2014