Dispute Over Class 12 SLC Exam Results Sparks Student Protests

Following the release of the Class 12 exam results within less than one and a half months after the examination, students expressed dissatisfaction and initiated protests. In response, a committee formed by the Education Minister has begun its work, according to the Ministry of Education. Traditionally, the publication of the final school-level examination results, known as the ‘SLC,’ has taken up to three months. However, students alleging flaws in the answer sheet evaluation took to the streets in protest on Thursday. After students gathered at Maiti Ghar Mandala in the capital, Education Minister Sasmita Pokharel established a committee. Spokesperson for the Education Ministry, Shivkumar Sapkota, confirmed that the committee commenced its work on Friday.

“The expedited publication of results this time might have raised concerns among students, but no protocol violations have occurred,” Sapkota stated. Minister Pokharel emphasized that by increasing manpower and removing unnecessary administrative procedures, the results were published on time. According to the Education Ministry, the investigative committee has been tasked with conducting ‘sampling tests of answer sheets along with verification of marks and data entry.’

The number of students passing Class 12 this year has further increased. According to the National Examination Board, 69.75 percent of the 332,000 regular candidates have passed. Additionally, 42 percent of partial candidates also succeeded, the board reported. Nevertheless, students have complained that despite performing well in Class 11 and internal assessments, their final exam scores were not as expected. While provisions exist for students to apply for re-totaling, dissatisfaction has been voiced regarding the increase in the fee from NPR 500 to NPR 1,000.

The Examination Board permits students to apply for ‘re-totaling’ if unsatisfied with their results. However, students remain unhappy about the fee hike. The board has preserved the answer sheets of 418,000 students, including both regular and partial candidates. Officials further clarified that students who remain dissatisfied after re-totaling have the option to personally review their answer sheets.