SEE begins today, 510,000 examinees to appear

Kathmandu, Apr. 2:This year’s SEE is beginning across the country from Thursday. For this, the National Education Board (NEB) stated that all question papers, answer sheets, and other necessary materials have arrived at examination centres.

Similarly, central heads and other staff have been deployed in all districts. According to the NEB, 510,000 examinees will appear the SEE this year, 4,000 fewer than last year’s 514,071.

 On Thursday, compulsory English examination is being held, followed by compulsory Nepali on Friday, and compulsory Mathematics on April 5, on Sunday.

Exams for Culture and Veda Vidyashram subjects will be conducted on April 6.

Officials at the NEB informed that out of the total number of examinees this year, 257,527 are female, and 252,434 are male students. Similarly, 63,000 students were exempted, while the remaining students are regular examinees.

The NEB has informed that a total of 1,991 examination centres have been designated. The NEB also confirmed that at least 12,500 police personnel have been deployed across the country to ensure the examinations are conducted in a safe environment.

Officials at the NEB said that due to the elections of March 5, this year’s SEE has been delayed by two weeks from the previous schedule. As a result, the NEB is also under schedule pressure. However, despite the workload, it is said that all the examination tasks will be completed on time.

Tuk Raj Adhikari, Controller of the NEB, said that most preparations for the examination have been completed. The NEB, including all its bodies across the country, are in action to conduct the SEE, Adhikari said.

Answer sheets evaluation at exam centres, results in a month

Just a day ago, newly appointed Education Minister Sashmit Pokharel instructed NEB officials to evaluate the SEE answer sheets at the exam centres themselves and make the results public within a month.

As a consequence, the entire exam model, including the evaluation format, will be changed this academic year.

Speaking with The Rising Nepal, Controller Adhikari also confirmed that the NEB has made a decision to change the evaluation format this year.

According to Adhikari, it has been decided to conduct the evaluation at the exam centres, or if it is not possible, at the Education Development and Coordination Unit in the district, by making alternative arrangements.

“The NEB has prepared a procedure to adopt two options when checking the answer sheets. Only if the relevant subject teacher is not available at the examination centre or there is a security threat, the transcripts will be checked at the examination centre,” said Adhikari.

He added that if such a situation arises, the district-based unit can make alternative arrangements and take the copies to another safe place for testing.

After being appointed as the Minister, Pokharel conducted a virtual discussion with the Heads of District Education and Coordination Units before conducting an inspection. And he directed all relevant officials to release the results within a month, leading to a change in the  evaluation format.

Upon the instructions of Minister Pokharel, the NEB has consulted with relevant officials to facilitate the task through new arrangements.

Before the Minister’s inspection to release the SEE result within a month, the result was expected to be published within 90 days, in the first week of July.

However, NEB officials identified that several challenges lay ahead due to the tight schedule caused by the March 5 elections, which delayed the SEE by two weeks.

A possible fuel supply shortage has also been identified as a major concern, as it could directly affect transportation.