The government recently endorsed the first amendment to the regulations of the Higher Secondary Education Board (HSEB).

The amendment has eased the process of getting affiliation to the Higher Secondary Education Board and supported the government to implement School Sector Reform Plan (SSRP), a comprehensive plan to transform the education system in the country.

As per the amendment in the regulations, any secondary school that has already completed one cycle of Grade X can apply for affiliation from HSEB to upgrade to higher secondary school.

Earlier, Higher Secondary Education Regulations had only allowed secondary schools that had run Grade X for three years to apply for HSEB affiliation.

At least 22 students must have appeared in School Leaving Certificate in institutional schools earlier to apply for affiliation. At least 40 students must have appeared in SLC from community schools in mountainous region, 45 students in hilly region and 50 in Tarai region.

Likewise, the pass percentage should be 30 per cent in a school from Mountainous region, 40 per cent in hilly region and 70 per cent in Tarai region to get HSEB affiliation earlier.

Bhim Lal Gurung, member secretary, HSEB said that the amendment to Higher Secondary Education Regulations has eased the process of secondary school’s affiliation to HSEB. Gurung said, “The amendment to the regulation would also help implement government’s SSRP.”

Currently, there are four levels in school education, They are primary, lower secondary, secondary and higher secondary from Grade I to XII. However, the SSRP envisages only two levels of school education namely basic education (Grade I to VIII) and secondary education (Grade IX to XII).

He said that as the country was going to fully implement the SSRP for reforms in education sector, it was a necessary to amend the HSEB regulations.

“After implementation of SSRP, there will be either basic level or secondary level and a school running classes up to Grade X has to be upgraded as higher secondary school,” he said. “The amendment will help attain the government’s goal.”

Schools will be granted affiliation based on academic performance.

source: The Himalayan Times,7 May 2012