The University of Cambridge International Examination (CIE) and the British Council, Nepal presented the Outstanding Cambridge Learners Awards on Wednesday to students whose academic achievements have been excellent in the Advanced (A Level) and Advanced Subsidiary (AS Level) exams.

Minister for Education Dina Nath Sharma, Regional Manager of CIE South Asia William Bickerdike, Charge des Affaires of the British Embassy in Nepal Guy Harrison and Country Director of the British Council Brendan McSharry OBE, handed over the certificates to 35 Nepali students who attained the highest marks in the A Level and AS Level exams, held in June and November respectively, last year.

As many as 31 students—who all obtained the highest marks in a given subject—received awards for exceptional performance within the country. Five Nepali students also bagged awards for ‘high achievement’, a category in which students who have scored the total highest cumulative marks across a number of subjects as well as students who have performed outstandingly in subjects that are not yet so widely taken in Nepal are awarded.

The awards were handed over in a ceremony organised in the Capital on Wednesday, and there were two world toppers among the winners. Niraj Parajuli and Soul Raj Joshi, both from Rato Bangla School, were awarded for their 100 percent marks in mathematics, which secured their positions as the highest subject scorers in the world.

Speaking at the function, Minister Sharma lauded the contributions the British Council and the Cambridge University have made in terms of catering to the need of quality and value-based education among Nepali students. “Our A Level graduates can compete anywhere in the world,” he said. “And our two world toppers have certainly made the country proud.”

According to Sharma, there are currently around 4,000 students who are pursuing their A-Level qualifications from the 42 A-Level schools in the country. The examinations are equivalent to the grade 11 and 12 board exams and are held twice every year, in June and November. Students get to choose subjects of their liking on either the half (AS, meaning one-year-study) or full (A, meaning two-year-study) credit systems. Test papers are then sent to the CIE board in the UK where they are corrected, and the grades are made public approximately three months after the exams.

“Nepal is a country with talented people. And this has been proven by world toppers. It is only opportunities that are needed for the exploration

of such talent,” said Harrison. Also speaking at the function, McSharry claimed that the A Level emphasises effective teaching and learning as

per the needs of changing times. “A Level provides a platform for students to prove their talents in the global arena,” he said.

Of the total awardees, nine are from Trinity School, eight from the British School, six—including two world toppers—from Rato Bangla School and five from GEMS Institute of Higher Education. Similarly, four others come from Budhanilkantha School, two each from Malpi Institute, Chelsea Academy and Orient College, and one from Xavier International College.

source: The kathmandu post,28 Feb 2013