The tale of the ‘Iron Gate’ resides in the collective consciousness of all Nepali households. Graduating the SLC, or SEE as they call it now, has always had a peculiar importance in our society.

Let’s take an example of one of the most loved comic characters from Nepali Teleseries industry: Mundre. Played by Jitu Nepal, Mundre is an SLC graduate who uses his degree as the foundation of his introduction. The character flaunts ear studs and chains, resembles a local goon, and rides a bike across his tole and does nothing else. But, for him having passed his SLC is a big deal and all the achievement he ever needs.

While this is just an example from a fictional world, we can see similar characters and similar values in real life too. Whether a student has passed SEE and with what percentage plays an important role not just in families but also beyond. The SEE status and percentages are something that instantly become a matter of concern for distant kith and kin, the neighbours, and occasionally random strangers we meet at bus stops or tea shops.

The pressure that the school places on a student is not to be overlooked. Literatures on SEE being the ‘toughest exam’ or ‘determinant of life’ are omnipresent. As soon as a student enters grade nine, she enters a whirlwind that is full of additional coaching classes, frequent mock exams, and constant counseling. The student enters a zone where life is academics and academics are life. There is only one goal: To attend, pass, and excel SEE with flying colours. Everything else is a blur. Teachers actually persuade students to be short-sighted by focusing on SEE and nothing else. They groom students to study for ‘one last time’ as if they are appearing for the last exams of their life.

Looking at this comprehensive scenario, it seems more like SEE is being used as an index to refer to the aptitude of a tenth grade student. It is more of an index that measures the prestige of a family or a school.

But, what is the big deal? Let’s take in account the first factor: The overrated rigor of exams. Honestly, the exam holds little or no importance in real life. In the last three years since my SLC, I have realised that it was the easiest exam I have ever sat for. The depth, importance, and rigor of any course are based on factors such as academic level, specialisation, and content, among other things. SLC is just an academic base of our country. The base is for everyone regardless of their personal aptitude and their future choices. The exam is never as harsh as one expects it to be-in fact there are instances of too much freedom. However, it would be justifiable to say that students in rural and remote areas are at a certain disadvantage and feel more challenged than those who are coming from urban areas and in private schools.

The practical value of the exam is close to nothing. I mean, there is also an important question that has been raised over and again but never been addressed. How accountable and fair is the checking and how trustworthy is a student’s performance? It is often said that the performance in SEE is not solely dependent on the effort we put throughout the tenth grade. It is dependent upon how much we master the typical ‘Ten Sets Collections’ and mug up every answer as there are high repetitions of questions. Every year, there are hundreds who make it through using unfair means. And the regulation systems aren’t reliable either. Over-marking and under-marking are pretty common and they eventually lead to shattering our expectations or ranges of divisions. This simple adds to our stress. 

A friend of mine, who was also a brilliant footballer, gave up his football training in tenth grade after his father asked him to focus on his Mathematics. I have talked to students in a remote village near Machhapuchhre who were just counting on their ‘Set Collections’ but didn’t have a shred of idea on what they would do after tenth grade. And I have read of students who have committed suicide on failing to pass the Iron Gate which in fact doesn’t exist.

Are we blind? Are we all fools? The cultural dogma—where people are too tied up in putting family’s prestige before a student’s independent success—is to be blamed for this all.

Tale of the Iron Gate has crippled our hobbies, talents, creativity, and has conjured us so much that we forget to ask ourselves where this is leading us.

I am not suggesting that the students should not prepare for SEE at all. All I am saying is that the pressure that the society puts the on the students is ridiculous and somebody has got to tell them that you don’t have to make a big deal out of it. SEE is just another exam, and if you can’t do well, it is okay. Just give your best.

Pant is an A-level graduate from Budhanilkantha School